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S I N T R A M 

A DRAMA IN BLANK VERSE, IN FOUR ACTS 



FROM THE STORY OF THE SAME NAME 
BY DE LA MOTTE FOUQUE 

BY 

FLORENCE E. De CERKEZ 




ARTl€tV€RITATI 



BOSTON 

RICHARD G. BADGER 

THE GORHAM PRESS 



Copyright, 1922, by Florence E. de Cerkez 



All Rights Reserved 



&*?& 



i*W 



MftR -9 1922 



Made in the United States of America 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 



§>CI.A659073 



AH 



SINTRAM 



DRAMATIS PERSONS 

ASMODEUS 

Bjorn Herser of Framness 

Sintram His Son 

Folko of Montfaucon A Norman Baron 

The Prior of the Monastery of Drontheim 

Sir Weigand A Knight 

Jarl Eric The Claimant to the Throne 

Rolf Bjorn's Henchman 

Thore Hjort A Friend of Bjorn's 

Harold Daggson "1 

Ivar OF Fljod V Friends of Sintram's 

Egil Fair-Haired J 

Gothard Lentz A Hamburg Merchant 

Rudolph His Son 

The Warder of the Castle of the Rocks of the Moon 
A Page, A Herald, A Squire, The King's Huscarl 

Engelstram Son to Montfaucon 

Verena Wife to Bjorn 

Gabrielle Wife to Montfaucon 

Venus 

Death 

Sven and Sote Men-at-Arms 

The Warder of Framness.. 

Soldiers, Retainers, Armorers, Huntsmen, and Women 
Attendants. 



SINTRAM 



ACT I 

Scene I 

The Hall at Framness — A low-beamed, primitive, 
Norse dwelling. Bjorn, Sintram, Harold Dagg- 
son, Ivar of Fljod, Egil Fair-Haired, Thore 
Hjort, the Prior of Drontheim, Verena, and her 
women. 

Bjorn. 

We welcome you unto the festal board. 
The barbecue has groaned upon the spit 
A day and night for this solemnity. 
A multitude of slain has made the fold 
Lament as Rachel did in Israel 



My lord, not in my presence may a jest 
However innocently meant, be culled 
From Holy Writ. 

Bjorn. 

This day is not all yours, 
Sir Priest, to have us mumbling on our knees 
From dawn to midnight. 

7 



8 SINTRAM 

Verena. 

Nay, my lord, I pray, 
Show reverence unto the holy man 
Who, for the first time doth consent to bless 
Our gathering at this the Christmas Feast. 

Bjorn. 

[To Verena. 
Full well you know, my gentle wife, I yield 
To your least wish, even to bidding here 
A Priest whose meddling tongue will not be staid, 

Verena. 

[To Prior. 

Forgive him, Father, he is over-blunt, 
But will not act as fiercely as he speaks. 

Prior. 

Heaven grant that you be not mistaken, Madam. 

[Enter* a Page. 

Page. 

[To Bjorn. 
Sir Weigand, noble lord. 

Bjorn. 

Yea, let him in. 
To night, we cancel feuds, and enemies 
Shall be sworn brothers while the mead flows 
round. ' 

[Enter Sir Weigand, clad as a pilgrim, with 
dead mens bones sewed on the edge of his 
gown. 



ACT I 9 

Verena. 

Heaven, Sir Knight, what senseless prank is this, 
That you are come to scare like idle boys 
About their games those who are gathered here? 

Bjorn. 

Weigand the Slender, doff those dead men's bones 
And do not play the madman at the board. 

Prior. 
Lady Verena pales. 

Weigand. 

Good night to all. 
I am no madman 



Bjorn. 

[To Sin tram. 
Do you blench at this? 
You were not fathered by a chicken-heart 
To start at mummers thus. What ails you, boy? 

Sintram 

I am not craven-hearted, but meseems 
I have beheld this man upon the wild. 

Bjorn. 
He should not startle sparrows on the bough. 

Sintram 

[To Weigand. 
Ill did you serve me yester-eve again. 



io SINTRAM 

Weigand. 
I do not know at all of what you speak. 

Verena. 
Why do you, Weigand, thus pursue my son? 

Bjorn. 

Verena, plead not with him in a voice 
So near to tears, or else I shall believe 
That yonder gage of twenty wedded years 
Has not effaced his image from your heart. 

Prior. 

[To Bjorn. 
Now shamefully do you entreat your wife, 
To bring upon her face that sudden glow 
As of a lily in the morning light. 

Weigand. 

[To Prior. 
Oh! let him be. Young Sintram, I must beg 
You will believe me: Neither yester-eve, 
Nor yet the day you spoke of, long before, 
Did I, upon the wild, or on the height, 
Or on the lonely village path that leads 
To yonder mountain-top, behold you, speak, 
Or otherwise encounter such a form 
As yours. 

Rolf. 

[To Sintram. 
Yet such as he you then described. 



ACT I ii 

Bjorn. 
Faugh! Do you tremble? Out upon you, Son! 

Sin tram. 
At sight of him, unreasoning terror chills 
My very blood. Will you once more deny 
The meeting me upon the winter wold? 
I first espied a pine tree in the snow, 
Whose shadow crossed my path ; and as I turned 
My horse's head to round it, Lo, I saw 
The cursed robes with those grim crackling bones, 
And, "Wilt thou let me ride?" he said, the while 
A foamy lather creamed my good steed's flank; 
And Skovemark, faithful dog, with ear and tail 
Down-drooping cowered. "Low bred animals, 
That shake and cower," he outcries in scorn. 
And I replied: "Full-blooded though they be, 
I should not cut in fairness dog or horse, 
For quaking at such fellowship as thine." 
Then up he leaps, and rides with me a space, 
His icy arms around my body claspt, 
And such a cold upon me as the North 
Has never blown into a Norseman's veins. 
"Press not so close upon me," then I said, 
"I press not yet upon thy heart," said he. 

Weigand. 
I never spoke the words you say I did, 
And never rode with you. Look at me, boy, 
For mine is not the face you saw that day. 

Bjorn. 
Bethink thee, Sintram, for he is so frail, 
With that his foolish prayer and fasting — 



12 SINTRAM 

Prior, 

Bjorn! 

Bjorn. 

I meant not to offend, but only thought 
Weigand the slender was a sorry sight 
Thus to unman the son of Fiery Bjorn. 

Sin tram. 

I stand corrected, for I do believe 
There is another on the mountain side. 

Rolf. 
How did that awful ride come to an end? 

Sin tram. 

Long frozen shadows stretched upon the ground 
While Fear, whose name I did not know before, 
Seized me, — a shrouded wilderness behind, 
And that Companion pillioned on my seat! 
Above, upon the mountain top, the pines, 
Like mourner's veils, darkened the gloaming sky, 
And then I heard the bell of Nidaros, 
As many beats as counted twenty years. 

Bjorn. 

Odd entertainment for a Christmas Eve! 
Your brooding notions ill beguile the time, 
For you have conjured, with your damsel tales, 
The motley guest that robbed you of your pluck. 
I half believe the lash were good for you, 
With which you did not dare chastise your dog. 



ACT I 13 

Sin tram. 
Then woe unto the hand that raised the lash! 

JVeiffand. 
Now I have stirred up strife between you two. 

Bjorn. 
Your presence here has never boded peace. 

Weigand. 
Yet for the sake of peace I came, alas! 

Bjorn. 

You might have worn your ordinary clothes. 

Prior. 
Forbear, my lord, Sir Weigand made a vow. 

Bjorn. 
I care not for his vows, he is a fool. 

Prior. 

Sir Weigand, you have trod with humble feet 

The stern paths of repentance. It were well 

Our Herser and his guests should know the cause — 

Verena. 
Perchance it were not well to tell the tale. 

Weigand. 
If you command me to be silent, then 
Torture shall never wring a word from me; 
But, lady, if I have your leave to speak 



i 4 SINTRAM 

Bjorn. 

[To Prior. 

Did I not say we never could have joy, 

But with your cant and nonsense you must break 

Into the very revels of the Yule? 

Verena. 
I would not cross the Father's orders, Sir, 
He has instructed you to speak. But I 
Whose presence does but add to his distress, [Point- 
ing to W eigand. 

[To Bjorn. 
My Lord, crave your permission to retire. 

[Exit Verena and the women. 

Sin tram. 
A secret understanding seems to bind 
My Mother to Sir Weigand 

Rolf. 

Ah, young Sir, 
Would you suspicion cast upon a saint? 

Sintram. 
I sooner would believe a breeze should melt 
The unsealed buttresses of yonder peak. 
But he, the Pilgrim of the dead men's bones, 
He fills me with misgiving. Who is he? 
My Mother would not willingly give ear 
To his confession. Sawest? 

Rolf. 

Your Mother, Sir, 
Will not be present when the evil rites 



ACT I 15 

That stain your Christmas Festival begin. 
Those empty armours in whose blackness sit 
Infernal spirits of your ancestors, 

Sin tram. 
Thou hast beheld them and art still alive? 

Rolf. 

And Frey's gilt boar head, upon which you swear, 
You and your godless kinsmen, to perform 
Deeds at whose dire rehearsal all the saints 
And all the angel host in Paradise 
Must stop their ears. 

Sin tram. 

You never knew the thrill 
Of warrior bosoms, when the sounding mail 
Grows red, and hurling down the shaggy cliffs 
Corpse upon corpse dyes all the brackish foam. 
Poor Rolf the Good, you cannot know the leap 
Of fighters' souls sped on to Odin's Halls, 
For you will tamely crawl into your heaven, 
Propped up by guardian angels till you die. 

Rolf. 
O Pagan still! 

Bjorn. 

Well, we await the tale 
You have selected for rehearsal, Sir, 
Before the Minstrel strikes his string to themes 
More suited to the tenor of the day. 



16 SINTRAM 

Weigand. 

Bjorn of the fiery eyes, mild speech for you ! 
I was not always thus obliged to bow 
Before your fierce upbraiding. I was free 
To range the forest in the lordly hunt, 
And lead my yeomen to the martial field. 
Nor you nor I were silvered on the pate 
With frost of many winters then, Sir Bjorn. 
I loved a maiden who returned my love 

Bjorn. 
You need not harp too long upon that chord. 

Weigand. 

Far be it from me now to make a boast. 

We walked, the maid and I, upon a slope, 

All pied with colors like an altar cloth, 

And the lush grass was soft beneath our tread; 

Then she espied a lamb that far had strayed. 

From its dull brethren, and she took it up, 

Was going home to make a pet of it, 

When the rough shepherd in his coat of skins, 

Came, hot and breathless and ill-tempered too, 

From seeking long for it o'er hill and dale: 

He spoke in anger, I in anger struck, 

And poured his life out on the meadow grass. 

The little lamb hid bleating in her robe, 

She raised it to her bosom, turned to me: 

"Take from my sight thy blood-stained hand," she 

said, 
"And never stand before my face again."*' 



ACT I 17 

I saw but Death in all my wanderings. Death 
Stood by my pillow, — Death upon the wind 
Rode like a phantom 

Bjorn. 

Sintram, white again! 

Sin tram. 
There is another on the mountain side. 

Weigand. 
Till the good Prior bid me take the garb 
That now I wear, and seek the way to Rome. 
Through penance merciless, I won the name 
Our host in irony bestows on me. 

Bjorn. 

Weigand the Slender, little comeliness 
Was left upon thee to delight the eye 
That erst beamed kindly. 

Weigand. 

Little as you say. 

Bjorn. 

Ungraceful were it when the better part 

Fell to me (as the fair Verena's love 

Changed like the waning moon and favored me), 

That I should grudge you, Weigand. 

Weigand. 

Love has passed 
And lusty life has passed ; I see the shades 
Grow long upon the road. 



18 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

Another word 
Of your grim fantasies, and I shall stick 
My dagger in you, Palmer though you be. 

CURTAIN 



Scene II 

The Same 

[Enter a Page. 

Page. 

[To Bjorn. 
Will you receive Jarl Eric's messenger? 
I told him you were merry on this night, 
And he should wait until tomorrow morn, 
But he declares his business will not wait. 

[Bjorn assents with a gesture. 
[Exit Page, enter Herald. 

Herald. 

Good morrow, Sir — Bjorn of the Fiery Eyes, 
Jarl Eric's greeting. He would know at once, 
Without preamble, speech, or circumstance, 
If you will yield him fealty, your liege 
Proclaim him, and the tribute pay 
Which he demands, or else, on Niflung's Heath, 
(The burial place of heroes who in fight 
Fell when the earth was new,) encounter him 
With all his force that swords may arbitrate. 

Bjorn. 

When the spring thaw makes fighting possible, 
We'll meet in full array on Niflung's Heath. 
19 



20 SINTRAM 

Leave not so curtly, man. Fill him a cup, 
And when he sees the bottom, fill again 
With this. 

[He tosses a purse to the Herald, 



Thanks, Lord. 



Herald. 

[Enter Asmodeus. 
Asmodeus. 

A doughty challenge this. 
To worst Jarl Eric is no easy task. 
I never saw the arrow, blade, or spear 
Could make him turn. 

[Exit Herald. 

Bjorn. 

We know our king of old, 
But have not yet, more than our mountain oaks, 
Learned how to bend. We break, we berserkers, 
If strained beyond resistance, — that is all — 
And shiver into splinters, with a crash 
That sounds in Hell. 

[The helmets and coats of mail and weapons 
on the wall are illuminated with red light. 

Asmodeus. 

Your forbears come to nod 
Approval of the threat. 

Rolf. 

[To Sin tram. 
Said I not so? 



ACT I 21 

Thore. 
We thought to round a living circle, Bjorn, 
And not to feast with ghouls. 

S intrant. 

What evil power 
Is in the man, to summon spectres thus? 
A horrible misgiving seizes me. 

Egil. 

The bane of evil deeds is on the house, 
That e'en the Holy Season does not lift. 

Harold. 
No harm will come to him whose hands are clean. 

Thore. 
Who is that man? [To Sintram. 

[Mail lights up again. 

Asmodeus. 

[To Sintram. 
See, see, your ancestors! 

Sintram. 

[To Thore. 
I do not know. [To Bjorn.] Sir, did you see 
him come? 

[Bjorn shakes his head. 

Asmodeus. 
From their remote and sleepless lair they rise, 
As Perseus scales the zenith, to be here 
At your carouse, and pass the jovial cup 



22 SINTRAM 

Sin tram. 
Father, I shall go mad if I behold 
The grinning visages of yonder ghosts. 

Prior. 
I see no spectres, Sintram, calm thyself. 

Sintram. 
There sits bold Rollo who to plunder France, 
Withstood the saintly arms of mitred Anselm 
And there the rover who on vineland's shores 
Fought red men and was buried in his mail. . . . 
Hastings who burned Amboise, and who was borne 
A seeming corpse, right into Luna's fane, 
With all his men, a funeral train well armed, 
Till, springing from the bier, he ripped his shroud, 
And at the altar laid the Bishop low. 
Iona's conqueror, Turges, shows the wounds 
That slew him at his bridal; Ingjald glares 
As when he fired his hall and choked his guests 
Amid the flames to seize upon their lands. 
Godfrey sits there who bearded Charlemagne, 
And last of all, Bjorn of the raven wing, 
With aspect sinister, the grizzly claw 
Upon his shoulder, [To Bjorn] as it is on yours. 

Bjorn. 
This is another phantom of your brain. 

[Lights disappear. 

Asmodeus. 
Such lineage is a guerdon of success. 
Yet if you'll let me teach you how to beat 



ACT I 23 

Your ploughshares into swords, I'll be the smith 
Will fashion weapons at whose sight the foe 
Shall hesitate to meet you on the field. 

Bjorn. 

I thank you for the offer, but decline 
To take advantage of my enemy. 

Thore. 
Bjorn, who is this? 

Bjorn. 

My friend, I cannot tell. 
I saw him only when he spoke, nor yet 
His features well discern; the twisted horn 
Upon his helmet hides his visage; — Stay! 
I fancy I beheld him as I bent 
One day upon a running brook to drink. 
My own distorted image in the wave 
Deceived, no doubt. 

Effil. 

Your guest did not disarm 
When he sat down. 

Bjorn. 

[To a squire. 
How did a visitor 
Armed cap-a-pie, unchallenged take a seat? 

Warder. 

For fifty years I've kept a faithful watch 
Upon your gates, and never in that time 
Has any caught me napping. Take my word, 



24 SINTRAM 

That ugly fellow is no common man. 
You saw the golden horn upon his head? 
He blew a blast of it before the doors, 
And they flew open of their own accord. 

Sin tram. 

Shame on thee! Has the wassail wrought so soon? 
I'll clear thy fuddled brain. [He raises his fist.] 

Warder. 

True son of Bjorn. 

Rolf. 

What angers thee, my Sintram, wroth so near 
The hour when Seraph voices sing of peace. 

Sintram. 

I heard but now the woe of evil ire, 
Yet straight the fury catches at my throat 
When I am thwarted, prompting murderous 
thoughts. 
[The Minstrel begins to play the "Venite 
adoremus. JJ Asmodeus mingles with the 
crowd and disappears. 

Prior. 

I do not like the semblance of that man. 

Sintram. 

[To Rolf. 

Go seek him quickly, he must still be near. 



ACT I 25 

Prior. 

I'll go with you, I do not like the man. 

[Exeunt Prior and Rolf. 
[Enter Frey's boar head in procession, an apple 
in its mouth, garlands around it, the tusks 
gilt, and the four gilt feet on the dish. 

Bjorn. 
Now, noble warriors, make your solemn vows. 
Though much has faded, like a pennon left 
To sear and tatter in the angry blast, 
Some shreds of ancient custom still remain; 
Nor have the prating priests as yet o'erthrown 
The Odin worship in our fathers' land. 
Here let us swear to do the brilliant deeds 
Of bold prowess that gilds their memory. 

Egil. 
I swear to waste and harry all the coast, 
Come this a twelvemonth, till I shall have heaped 
A pile of gold as high as to my beard 
On Balder's altar that still stands at Hove. 

Harold. 
I swear to scatter all the prying monks 
That fatten on the glebes of Roga land, 
To raze their walls until they level are 
With native dust, and burn the musty scrolls 
That work their spells against the ancient faith. 

Bjorn. 
I hereby swear to drown these halls in blood, 
These very halls, if ever Hamburger 



26 SINTRAM 

Sets foot within them with his merchant crew 
Who filch all honor from brave deeds of arms. 

[Enter Prior and Rolf. 

Rolf. 
The stranger whom we sought has disappeared. 

Prior. 
A barbarous scene, and most unknightly vow! 

Bjorn. 
This is no place for men as good as thou. 

Prior. 

Bjorn, thou dost top the worst of bygone sins 
With this. 

Bjorn. 

Put not my patience to the test, 
Sir Priest. 

Prior. 

I'll put thy manhood to the test. 

Egil. 
Away ! We will not have a homily ! 

Harold. 
Or we shall din the vespers on thy crown. 

Prior. 

Whatever be your rage, I will not flinch, 
But here pronounce your purpose impious. 



ACT I 27 

Harold. 

[To Sin tram. 
Now, do you give a warrant to these words? 

[Draws. 
Sin tram. 
Silence! Whoever bares the steel shall learn 
The weight of Sintram's blade. — [They fall back.~\ 
I, so far, have not known what any man 
Obtained by threat or insolence of me. 

Bjorn. 
Fine valor, worthy better object, son. 

Sintram. 
Wouldst thou allow his consecrated head 
To fall before the onset of these boys? 

Ivor. 
He calls us boys who are his elders, Ha! 

Thore. 
Perchance he contemplates a holy life, 
And would not have us hard upon his kind. 

Prior. 
He might do worse than be a holy man ; 
Nor shall I cease from saying what I should, 
Were this my latest word. You sin. 

Bjorn. 

Refrain : 
I will not be dictated to by thee, 
Though all thy betters on their bended knee, 
As thick as on Cathedral doors, should bid it. 



28 SINTRAM 

Prior. 

My betters bearded yours long since and won. 

Long have your Odin's sacrilegious rites 

Been, by the Church, put under strictest ban, 

All. 
Kill him! Sacrilegious! Kill him, now! 

Bjofn. 

Then hear me, Priest: I spurn your puny cries. 
And fettering to me with an iron bond 
The martial oath you heard me just pronounce — 
By Death and Sin I swear to keep the vow, 
And as a guerdon, — proffer this, my son. 

Sin tram. , 
I'll be a willing witness to the deed. 

Prior. 
God help you both. 

[Enter Page. 
Page. 

Two men are at the gate, 
And crave admittance. 

Bjorn. 

We have guests enough 
To mar the merry-making with their jars, 
Like instruments ill-tuned that play awry. 
Who are they? 

Page. 
That I know not. 



ACT I 29 

Bjorn. 

Find ft out. 
[Exit Page, and re-enters immediately. 

Page. 

Rudolph and Gothard Lentz, two Hamburgers, 
Wrecked with their goods upon the coast, implore 
A shelter of your mercy. 

Bjorn. 

Hamburgers ! 

Sin tram. 

When I stood sponsor to my father's oath, 
I scarcely thought so soon it would mature. 

Prior. 

Withdraw thy wicked oath and save thy soul. 

Thore. 

The wreck has not gone to the bottom yet; 
Our ships may get their beaks into her side 
And suck good meat. 

A Man. 

I'll thank them for a coat; 
This tattered jerkin has seen better days. 

Sintram. 
We waste our time in talk, rush out and strike. 



30 SINTRAM 

Prior. 
Art thou in such a hurry to be doomed? 

Bjorn. 

The mountain bear will share his trackless realm 

With his own kind; but if a lesser beast 

Break on his bounds, he crushes it to death. 

I thank thee, Odin, thou has heard my prayer: 

My hand is on the hilt, and I will spill 

The lives of these two men whom thou hast thrown 

Into my way. Arm! Arm! 

[They arm. 

Make haste. 

Haste! Haste! 

Bjorn. 

Who comes into the Bear's den meets the bear. 

[ They rush to the doors. 

CURTAIN 



Sin tram. 
All. 



Scene III 

The Court of Framness 

Gothard and Rudolph Lentz are discovered defend- 
ing themselves from the furious onset of Bjorn 
and his followers. 

[Enter Asmodeus, unobserved. 

Bjorn. 

Fasten the gates and ring the bell. "The Bear" 
Our battle-cry! 

Sintram. 

Upon them, Ho! 

All. 

The Bear! 
Gothard. 

Will you thus treat poor helpless travellers? 

Rudolph. 

[He falls on his knees. 

Spare, spare my father, strike me if you will. 

Gothard. 

We must have fallen on a haunted place 
Where devils hold their midnight orgies, — 
3i 



32 SINTRAM 

[All rush upon them. Weigand takes up a 
scythe to hold off the assailants, Rolf and 
the Prior interpose to protect the victims. 
Asmodeus is at the head of the onslaught. 
Suddenly a window opens above the court, 
and shows the figure of Verena lighted from 
within. 

Verena. 

Help! 
O pitying Heaven! 

Egil. 

I saw them pass, but where? 

Thore. 
Here, Hamburger, take that. [Strikes a retainer. 

ist Retainer 

You miss your aim! 

2nd Retainer 
Dog, thou shalt die. [Strikes Egil. 

Egil. 
Thou strikest in the dark. 

Harold. 
A sable fume, enfolding, dims my sight. 

Thore. 
Your magic blinds us, wizard Hamburgers. 

[The armed warriors, struck with blindness, 
turn on each other in the dark, the gates, 
miraculously unbarred, fly open of their own 
accord. 



ACT I 33 

Rudolph. 

Although it seems that to unhallowed beings 
The place is given up, an angel deigns 
Protect us still. Thou lovely guardian, thanks. 
And when thou wingest back to Paradise, 
Remember us. 

[Exeunt Rudolph and Gothard. 

[Sintram has stood as in a trance from the 

moment Weigand took up the scythe. He 

now looks towards the open gates with joy. 

Exit Asmodeus. 

Sintram. 

The gates are wide, they're saved. 
[Gates close and retainers disperse. 

Rolf. 
We have your mother, Sir, to thank for this. 

Prior. 

Divine assistance is vouchsafed to them, 
They are unscathed. 

Bjorn. 

They have escaped. 

Sintram. 

[With sudden recollection.} Ah me! 

Come Sin and Death, since I must suffer for it. 

Weigand. 
Talk not so wildly. 



34 SINTRAM 

Sin tram. 
I must answer this. 

Bjorn. 
I do repent me that I swore the oath. 

Prior. 

Had I been there when you pronounced that oath 

I should have stayed you ; but the words were said 

As I returned from seeking that dark man 

Of evil countenance, who came again 

To cry for murder — and once more hath fled. 

Have naught to do with him. I must away. 

The morrow's dawn is holy. Much were I 

To blame if it should find me so removed 

From fitting place as to be tarrying here. 

Bjorn, thou hast made a victim of thy son. 



[Exit. 



Thore. 
Enough of these enchantments, I am going. 



Effil. 
I'll come with you. 

Thore. 

[To. Bjorn. 
The night is at low ebb, 
We should wend homeward, for the Christmas 

Feast 
Calls us to early duties. 



ACT I 35 

Bjorn. 

No excuse 
Is needed. 

Ivar. 

We must take our leave, farewell, 
Sir Bjorn. 

Harold. 

We have a long ride home, farewell. 

[Exeunt the Knights. 

Weigand. 

Bjorn, thou'lt somewhere be called to an account 
For this night's doing. 

Bjorn. 

So you be my judge, 
I'll not escape the executioner! 

[To Rolf. 
Go with the women ! 

Rolf. 

Speak you thus to me? 

[Exit. 
[Bjorn turns and faces Sintram. 

Bjorn. 
The gods forsake us, Sintram. 

Sintram. 



Gods and men. 
[Exit Bjorn. 



36 SINTRAM 

Weigand. 

\To Sintram. 
Upon the darkness beams a ray of light, 
Cast from thy mother's window. Cheer thee, boy. 

Sintram. 
I thank thee for the word of comfort, Sir ; 
But were the light a star, that star the sun 
It could not thaw the ice about my heart. 

Weigand. 
Dost thou still fear me? 

Sintram. 

Now I know there roves 
Another like thee, in the desolate dark, 
Whose vision is to thine as Death's to Sleep. 
But wert thou Sleep, and couldst thou cast thy spell 
Upon my wakeful lids, then I should pray 
Thy power would steep me in oblivion still, 
So that I might escape what is to come. 

Weigand. 
What do you mean? 

[Several retainers enter during the following 
dialogue, and assemble near the door. 

ist Retainer. 

Now this is sorry cheer. 
I had a goodly rib between my teeth 
When they began their blind-man's buff, and 

dropped 
The morsel to my dog. 



ACT I 37 

2nd Retainer. 

He has it now. 

Sintram. 

[To Weigand. 
If thou wert Sleep, thou'dst wear a poppy crown, 
And at thy touch, a mellow-sounding lute 
Would make sweet music, while the many chimes 
Of dreamland ranged in all the drowsy flowers. 

3rd Retainer. 
The ale had never come my way. 

1st Retainer. 

I doubt 
There is some sorcery beneath his mail. 

[Pointing to Sintram. 

2nd Retainer. 

If he should hear, thy life's not worth as much 
As the good bone that Sven gave to his dog. 

Sintram. 

If thou wert Sleep, forge tfulness would spread 

[Enter Rolf. 
About thy path and suffering would cease. 

Rolf. 

[To Sintram. 
Your lady mother comes to speak with you. 

[Enter Verena, exeunt Rolf and Weigand and 
Retainers. 



38 SINTRAM 

Verena. 
Oh, Sintram! 

S intrant. 

In my state, if worse could be, 
It were to lose your pity, as I shall 
When all the truth is told. 

Verena. 

I know the truth. 
Sintram. 
And thou dost come to me? 

Verena. 

I bid thee stand 
When I'm away from thee. Let not those Shades 
Conquer thee. 

Sintram. 

What is this? When thou'rt away? 

Verena. 

My son, my son, that holding in my arms 
I sang to as the house grew dark and slept; 
Whose heated forehead, when the fever flushed, 
I cooled, and felt the burn in my own hand! . . . 
Sickened with anxiousness, IVe nursed the strength 
Back to thy weakened sinews. I have fought 
The slightest ill that threatened thee, and prayed 
That I might bear it, so that thou wert spared. 

Sintram. 
My good is thine, the evil is my own. 



ACT I 39 

Verena. 

I readily will give my life for thee — 

And him whom all these years I called my lord. 

Sin tram. 
Thy life! Thou shalt not go! Wilt thou be 

stabbed 
On some stone altar in the haunted woods, 
And offer thy pure blood a sacrifice 
For all thy husband's grievous sins and mine? 

Verena. 
Nay, satisfaction has been offered once 
For every sin repented, but I fear 
Heaven's kindled anger at this heinous blot, 
And to appease a just Divinity 
I'll take the vows renouncing even thee. 
Of Bjorn's contrition I shall wring consent. 

Sintram. 

Leave us not, of thy pity, lest the curse 

That is suspended fall and drag us down. 

For thou departing, evil here holds sway. 

This homestead, whose strong frame withstands the 

blast 
Of ocean, then will crumble day by day, 
Declining like my father in his prime. 
The deadly nightshade in our corridors 
Will climb and blossom; bats about the rooms 
Will wheel as in a belfry when its voice 
Rusts with too long disuse, and owls that peep 
From hollow trees, perching upon the beams 
Will hoot, and wing their flight about the Hall. 



4 o SINTRAM 

Verena. 

Worse tenants than thou speak'st of occupy 
Thy father's dwelling, Sintram, at this hour. 
As I looked down upon the hellish sight, 
Our men, like furious demons, aiming death 
At unoffending strangers, and thy Sire 
Commanding murder, in the throng there passed 
Two figures far more terrible than all. 
Not Bjorn with bloodshot eyes and thirsty steel, 
Not those rough brutish men-at-arms, like hounds 
Set on the antlered quarry, while the mort 
Dins at its ear, filled me with dread as they. 

Sintram. 

I cannot well endure to hear of it, 
For every word is retribution — dread — 
Nay, mortal terror such as man should know 
But at the voice of doom, and scarcely then. 

Verena. 

Such as a man should know but in the face 

Of sin ! One of those visitors I saw, 

Flashed by a torch: I straight thought of the snake 

Whose carven coils surround the Chapel porch. 

Sintram. 
Forbear, I do beseech. 

Verena. 

Sintram, thou'rt sick! 



ACT I 41 

Sintram. 
And little like to mend. 

Verena. 
My son, you must not yield to wild wood fears. 

Sintram. 
Oh, leave me not! 

Verena. 

Yea, thou must fight alone. 

Sintram. 
If thou depart, Hell holds its revels here. 

Verena. 

My days and nights shall flow in orison. 
And when the battle goes against thee, son, 
Think of my supplication raised for thee. 

[Exit Verena. 

CURTAIN 



Scene IV 

A Room at Framness. 
Sintram and Asmodeus. 

Sin tram. 
You did not say a word on entering, 
And without courtesy you left the Hall. 

Asmodeus. 
I came to render service, took a place 
Where bidden by your men. — I overheard 
The challenge of Jarl Eric, and I felt 
A friendly interest, — I know his strength, 
And offered to assist in forging arms. 

Sintram. 
Your weapons have been judged too murderous. 
Did not the laws of hospitality 
Forbid requiring of a guest his name, 
I should be less discreet. — A strange unrest 
Possesses me. Our forest denizens 
Are said to show such signs at the approach 
Of preying fangs. 

Asmodeus. 
Unfair comparison! 
Such restlessness affects the warrior's heart 
42 



ACT I 43 

When worthy conflict's near, or blooded steeds 
That champ and snort before the clarion peal. 

Sintram. 

See through the grey clouds how the dawn peeps out. 
I have not slept or eaten, and I feel 
Athirst and weary, not disposed for battle. 

Asmodeus. 

The remnants of the banquet still invite, 
Through yonder open door, then let me bring 
The brimful horn that stands there, with a piece 
Of broken bread. — 

Sintram. 

The hour of twelve is past; 
To break the fast would render me unfit 
For this great day's devotion. 

Asmodeus. 

Unfit! You? 
Why what could make you any more unfit? 



Sintram. 



Harking to you. 



Asmodeus. 

Compunction of a child, 
That dare not touch lest he be switched for it. 

[Asmodeus runs in and fetches a drinking horn 
from the Hall.] 



44 SINTRAM 

The ill-fated boar's head still adorns the board. 
Come, Sintram, drink the B rage-Cup with me, 
The sacred cup of vows none dare forswear, 
And you shall reap advantage of the bond. 

Sintram. 

[Looking away.] Methought I saw the Crazy 

Pilgrim pass 
He held a glass between his hands and went 
With the slow pace of death. 

Asmodeus. 

Long fast and watch 
Have been too much for you, your strength is spent, 
Your brain whirls idly round an idle theme. 

Sintram. 

Thou dost unnerve me with that stony glare. 

[Gazing into the air. 
I hear the rattle of the dead men's bones 
That edge thy gown, and the wide vault is spanned 
As by a lurid rainbow, with the blade 
That looms upon thy scythe. 

Asmodeus. 

He will not harm, 
You are but young and Death is not for you. 
There is a stretch of happiness unrolled 
Beneath your feet if you will tread on it. 

[Music. 
Yours the long days that from her distaff spins 
The hooded Fate, to seize on if you will; 



ACT I 45 

Yours torchlit nights of joyous banqueting, 
And all the beauties of the open field ; 
The sun on croft and mead, the flashing brooks 
That yield their scaly wealth, the heavy corn, 
With promises of plenty, and the kine 

[Music ceases. 
That lowing homeward wend at close of day. 

Sintram. 
I never knew that these were yours to give. 

Asmodeus. 
The kingdoms of the earth were granted me. 
I give them to my liegemen as I list. 

Sintram. 
I'm not your liegeman. 

Asmodeus. 

Are you sure of that? 
[Music. 

Mine is the languor of the summer heat 
That drops upon the sense like honeyed ale; 
I thrill the music of the thrush's throat, 
Till all th' intoxicated wood's afire, 
Inform the very wind with rapturous joys 
That flush the roses' cheek, inspire the night 
With whispers scarcely heard, that heave and sigh 

[Music ceases. 
Through the o'erweighted bosom of the boughs. — 

Sintram. 
Art thou a bard? 



46 SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 

Thou oft hast to thy harp 
Sung words like these. 

Sin tram. 

I know them for mine own. 
All things must evil be, since all are thine. 

Asmodeus. 
They are but evil if I breathe on them. 

Sin tram. 

I then renounce them, I will never joy 
In aught on which thou breathest to defile. 

Asmodeus. 

But there are other glories in the world. 

Wilt thou renounce the warrior's stern delights, 

And take no pleasure in the paths of war? 

Sin tram. 
These are not thine. 

Asmodeus. 

Think'st thou? Although I grant 
There often is a virtue in your swords 
To win true honors and to heal true woes, 
Yet is not mine the outcome in the end? 

Sin tram. 

I will not hear you. There is nothing left 
If this be nought. I will do battle still. 



ACT I 47 

Asmodeus. 

You show yourself true Norseman, worthy a quaff 
Of Walhall's nectar from your foeman's skull. 
And you shall ride, the Valkyr's horse, swept up, 
Dishevelled by the tempest, take by storm 
A hero's seat, and watch the unfinished fight. 

Sintram. 
So will I, and perchance without your leave. 

Asmodeus. 
But I can help you to a glorious fate. 

Sintram. 

If I could see the limbs of Arinbjorn 
Feasting the eagles, I would willingly 
Dash to destruction, — 

Asmodeus. 

Hide in ambuscade 
Among the coast rocks, close on his domain, 
And send a handful of your comrades out 
To lead the chase across his fields of corn. 
When your old enemy appears, burst forth, 
And force him to the battle unprepared. 

Sintram. 

I would not steal from an unthinking foe 
My earliest bays. 



4 8 SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 

He surely will be armed, 
And will but yield to you the victory 
You else must be content to share with Bjorn. 
You shall be knighted on the battle field, 
As he rides up on hearing of the deed. 

Sintram. 

I am advised, and so I will command. 

If there be any sooth in prophecy, 

I'll drink with you the friendly cup of wine, 

That makes all resolutions binding. 

Asmodeus. 

Drink, 
And sorrow dies. Drink! And the world's a 
dream ! 

[They drink. 
CURTAIN 



ACT II 

Scene I 

Spring. 

A bay in the Fjord. A mass of rocks conceal those 
on shore from sight to seaward. 

Sintram, Harold Daggson, Ivor of Fljod, Egil Fair- 
Haired and Thore. [They lie in ambush.] In 
a group further off Sven, Sote and retainers. 

Harold. 

Our scouts report the ship of Arinbjorn 
Is steering round the ness; 't will soon be here. 
And little does he guess whom he will meet. 
Our chase of yesterday upon his lands, 
Through standing corn, upsetting dairy pans, 
And scattering herds, the hounds full cry on them, 
Have worked desired effect, and he has come 
In secret haste to be avenged on Bjorn 
Whose crest was seen among your followers. 

Sintram. 

We'll stitch it on the lining of our coats, 
When we have learned to stand in awe of him. 
49 



50 SINTRAM 

Egil. 

Well said. My father cried, "A boyish prank, 
But if the bilious wrath of Arinbjorn 
Be cleared by racing after madcap boys, 
Perhaps the neighborhood may be at peace, 
Until he find some other cause of ire." 

Sintram. 
There's more in this, for Arinbjorn and I 
Have sworn a death feud ; I dispatched a man 
He sent to rob us, and shall only sleep 
Secure from him when I am in my grave. 

Ivar. 
Well, I should offer it to him instead. 

Sintram. 
We all may ride the Valkyr's steed tonight. 

Harold. 
Yet I prefer to ride my chestnut mare. 
Sintram, you're in a very sombre mood 
And brood on death, — 

Ivar. 

Although you here command 
Four Viking's sons. 

Sintram. 
There have been many crowned 
Who led a berserk course when scarce fifteen, 
Younger than I by near ten years; 't were well 
You were more wary of an evil name. 



ACT II 51 

Ivar. 
What name? 

Sintram. 

Why that by which you called your Sire. 
[Ivar puts his hand to the hilt. 
Put up your sword. The name of Viking, once 
A glorious title, now that one is King 
Who fleshed his steel in a marauder's cruise, 
Stands not in good repute. 



All. 



Sintram. 



What say you, eh ! 



It is well known, Jarl Eric, by the fall 

Of Olaf Trygvysson, our former King, 

In the great fight at Svolder, won a crown 

Which is not recognized throughout the land, 

Since Sweyn and Earling Skjalgsson share with him. 

And well he feels the royal honors sit 

But awkwardly upon him, for he clings 

To the good name of Jarl, is not called king, 

And watches as a wolf the guarded fold, 

The sumptuous court that Skjalgsson holds at Sole. 

1st Retainer. 

More than two hundred trained huscarls, they say, 
Compose his retinue, strong to uphold 
His fresh won crown against a rival claim. 

2nd Retainer. 
And wondrous hoard is in his treasure house, 
Plunder of cities of the foreign seas. 



52 SINTRAM 

Egil. 

From Greekland he has jewels rich and rare, 
Such as the Empress Theodora wore, 
Strung at her temples, flowing from her neck 
Upon her bosom; armlets that would pay 
The ransom of all Trondelag, — 

3rd Retainer, 

And gold 
In vaulted rooms, — 

Harold. 

His palace hall is filled 
With tapestries and hangings, torn away 
From many a Christian fane, and silver plate 
From many an altar. 

Sin tram. 

He should restitute 
The stolen treasures to their owners then, 
Since he is grown so wonderfully good. 

Sote. 

The thefts were not all his, and who shall tell 
Amid our many raids on southern coasts 
Whence such a gem or such a Pix was taken? 

Sintram. 
I never yet set sail to southern seas. 

Sven, 

[To Harold. 
Saw you the fight at Svolder? 



ACT II 53 

Harold. 

I was there. 
We headed west towards Bergen, till we made 
The isle of Borgund where the allied fleets 
Were stationed to attack us, — Swedes and Danes, 
Under their kings, Sigvalde, the traitor chief, 
With his Jomstvikings, and our traitor Jarl, 

Sin tram. 
Who now is King, — 

Harold. 

Good Olaf Trygvysson 

Was then our King. 

Thore. 

I too was in that fight. 
Eric and Forkbeard, standing on their decks, 
Watched our proud forces steering through the 

sound, 
A string of galleys, bound like shining stars 
In one grand constellation. Eric knew 
The name of every galley, every man, 
And one by one betrayed them to the Dane. 

Egil. 

If his cold heart at any moment beat 
With pity for his own Norwegian kin, 
The memory of a father to avenge 
Steeled him to play his part. 

Bote. 

He played it well. 



54 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

[To Thore. 
Jarl Haakon, Eric's father, met his death 
In Thora's pig-sty, did he not, my lord ? 

Thore. 

Jarl Haakon paid but little reverence 
Unto the marriage vow. He saw a face 
That pleased him well, though Flora of Rimul, 
His mistress, was a very goodly creature. 
This newer fancy was Orm Lyrgia's wife; 
And burning with the outrage, furious Orm 
Led out a host of bonders like himself, 
Roused to protect the sacred B alder's pyre, 
Their hearthstone, and supported by the king, 
They pressed on Haakon, into Thora's farm 
Whither he'd fled; there in her pig-sty hid, 
With Kark his thrall, he heard King Olaf set 
A price upon his head. All through the night, 
A sputtering drip between them, Jarl and man 
Crouched in the stench and breathless dark, and 

strove 
To shake off sleep, each by the other's hand 
Dreading to fall if slumber mastered him, 
And each in turn a prey to hideous dreams, 
For they were spent with running through the 

woods. 
And either, waking with a sudden start, 
Would spread his hand upon a naked blade. 
At last, as dawn came sifting through the cracks, 
The Jarl lay struggling in a pool of blood, 
And Kark crept out to claim a murder's fee. 



ACT II 55 

Ivar. 
You long were in the service of the king? 

Thore. 

Yea, from my youth I was his constant friend. 

He was the strongest man I ever knew; 

Drew bow with right or left; played with three 

spears ; 
Full often when the rowers were at work, 
And his Long Serpent skimmed the frothy waves, 
I've seen him take a stride across the side, 
And nimbly leap along from oar to oar, 
With such quick speed, the sinews of the men 
Scarce felt the weight ere he was in his seat. 

Sin tram. 
A very athlete. 

Thore. 

And withal so kind. 
The queen was fretting, she was ever thus, — 
One sunny morning, it was early spring, 
Thyra lamented that our chilly earth 
Yielded such barren fruitage. "Richer far 
Her own broad Danish acres. Could not he 
Wrest from her uncle those her dower lands 
That he had never fought for? Then would come 
Ships to Norwegian shores with stores of food." 
While yet she spake, a hawker passed that way, 
And called out some green thing she fancied well 
Then does our Olaf run into the street, 
And quickly buy the stuff to give it her, 
Which she, to thank him, throws into his face. 



56 SINTRAM 

Egil. 
Such little things have oft brought on a war. 

Ivar. 
A sail ! A sail ! 

[A ship in full sail, makes for the shore. 

Thore. 
Is this the king's Long Serpent 
Come back to life, a phantom of the deep? 
I have not seen her like since she went down. 

Sintram. 
Conceal yourselves behind these rocks. 

Retainer. 

She steers 
Into the Fjord, and puts her beak to landward. 

Sintram. 
When they draw up their galleys on the sand, 
I'll give the signal, and our cry, "The Bear" 
Shall bring their strength to battle array. Leap 

out, 
As I leap, when I give the cry. 

Sote. 

My lord, 
The dragon is not that of Arinbjorn; 
This vessel bears another figurehead, 
A woman with a mass of golden hair, 
Perhaps Aslauga, the celestial guest 
Whom the bard Frodi loved. This, after all, 
May be a magic long-boat, fraught with ill. 



ACT II 57 

Sintram. 

Is't of your nurse you learned such tales, good 
Sote? 

Egil. 
This is a steady boat from southern seas. 

Retainer. 

No doubt well freighted with a rich reward 
For those who dare possess themselves of it. 

Tkore. 

If I mistake not, I have seen such ships 
Upon the waters of the Frankish bays. 

Retainer. 
My lord, keep watch, and like a fish-hawk swoop. 

Harold. 

Sintram, you would not rush upon a foe 
Without a warrior's warning? 

Sintram. 

Peace, you fool! 
[Folko of Montfaucon and his men approach 
in a landing boat, and begin to disembark. 

They do not see the Norsemen. 

Harold. 

Because you are the leader at this hour, 
Do not believe I shall give way to you. 



58 SINTRAM 

Ivar. 

I joined you here to fight your enemy, 
Not waylay unknown men. 



Sintram. 
Your father was a Viking. 



You just have said 



Ivar. 

Better days 
Have brought a better mind. I will not strike 
A band of harmless travellers. 

Sintram. 

Be gone! 
I'm weary of your preaching. They shall pay 
The price of having disappointed me. 
You all may go, and I will fight alone. 
Our Ivar is too good to join us, Sirs; 
Let those who feel a mawkish fear creep up 
And take no pleasure in a berserk fight, 
Pray follow him, for singlehanded, I 
Can win the treasures of this Norman ship. 

Thore. 

Rob unoffending strangers! 

[He tries to detain Sintram who is about to 
give the signal of attack. 

Sintram. 

Stand aside. 
For if you leave me not I'll — 



ACT II 59 

Thore. 

You will what? 
You owe my years a little more respect. 
I came to help my old friend's son, young man, 
With the experience at my command, 
Against his father's lifelong enemy, 
And not to play the thief with travellers. 
On such a purpose bent, you part from me. 



I go with you. 
And I. 



Ivor. 

Egil. 

Harold. 
And I. 
Sven and Sote. 



Not we. 
Sin tram. 

[To the departing Jar Is. 
I'll answer this some other time, my friends. 
The Shield Maids hold in midair Sintram's fate, 
And he must grasp it ere they let it fall. 

Egil. 
Thou bloody bear's cub! 

Thore. 

Son of Fiery Bjorn! 
[Exeunt Thore, Egil, Ivor, and Harold. 

Sven. 
My lord, we'll fight for you to our last breath. 



60 SINTRAM 

Sote. 
I speak for all your followers: So will we. 

Sin tram. 

The root red cock of Hell is crowing now 
To give the signal. Come, The Bear! The Bear! 
[They attack Montfaucon and his Normans 
who are in the act of landing. 

Montfaucon. 

We've fallen upon a robber band, Lay on, 

And let your battle cry be Gabrielle. 

[Montfaucon and his followers engage Sintram 
and his men. Music. The Norsemen as 
they fight, sing snatches of the Death-Song 
of Ragnar Lodbrok. 

Norsemen. 

I hear the Maids of slaughter call, 
They bid me forth to Odin's Hall — 

Norman. 
Gabrielle! 

Norsemen. 

High seated in their blest abodes, 
I soon shall quaff the drink of gods! 

Sintram. 
The Bear! 



ACT II 61 

Sote. 
It seems they are a match for us. 

Sin tram. 

Stand back, 
I will engage this hero hand to hand. 

[Several men of Sintram s following fall, 
singing snatches of Ragnars song. 

A Retainer. 

The hours of life have glided by; 
I fall, but smiling shall I die! 

[Montfaucon engages Sintram. 

Sven. 
Sintram is fallen into the trap he set. 

Sote. 
We're dead if we stay here, make we away. 

Retainer. 

If we are wise we'll seek another place. 

These Normans all have Rollo's Spirit in them. 

[Exeunt Sote, Sven and the retainers carrying 
their wounded. Sintram is overpowered by 
Montfaucon who strikes the sword from his 
hand. 

Montfaucon. 

Surrender wild young Northman, I am loath 
To shed your life. 



62 SINTRAM 

Sin tram. 
I fall, but smiling die. 

Montfaucon. 
Or look your last upon the light, or yield. 

Sintram. 
I've not been taught that word. 

Montfaucon. 

A plunderer's death 
Dishonors Folko's steel. 

Sintram. 

Why do you pause? 
Strike! My blood stains not, I'm a warrior's son. 

Montfaucon. 
This consecrated blade was never used 
On an unworthy foe. 

Sintram. 

Get a fresh sword. 

Montfaucon. 

[Standing back. 
Fierce as the eagle, you are bold as he. 

[While they have been fighting, the boat in 
which Gabrielle is being conducted to land 
comes near, manned with the retainers of 
Montfaucon who had been left on board the 
main ship. Gabrielle now appears in the 
prow, high above the heads of those on the 
shore. 



ACT II 63 

Gabrielle. 

Folko, my knight, you will be merciful. 

[Folko with drawn sword stands between the 
boat and Sintram. 

Sintram. 

[Approaching Folko. 
The bards sing truly of the Walkyrs, strike! 

Montfaucon. 

No, make amends for this. You owe your life 
To Lady Gabrielle. 

[He points to Sintram 's sword which is on the 
ground. 

Sintram. 

Oh! To be borne 
To Walhall on her steed! 

Montfaucon. 

You are misled; 
This is the noble dame of Montfaucon, 
My Lady true and human. Gabrielle, 
You here beheld a trial of arms wherein 
Both battle and defeat were but in jest. 
This our young kinsman, (for upon his cloak 
I saw the sturdy emblem of our house,) 
Came out to meet us, but his feigned assault, 
Designed to give us martial welcome, seemed 
Real to our men, and was received in earnest. 

[To Sintram. 
Was it not so? Support this fable, Sir, 
To calm her fears. 



64 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

If I should dare to raise 
My hopes so high, I'd labor to restore 
Your confidence by saying I came out 
With no intent against you, Montfaucon: 
My weapon found a mark I did not aim. 

Montfaucon. 

Speak no more of it. You've your spurs to win, 

[Low 1 to Sintram. 
In a just quarrel fight as you did now 
And you shall win them. 

Sintram. 

Lord of Montfaucon, 
None before you has overcome my arms, 
And your own sword, some day, shall dub me 

Knight. 
There is no place along this barren shore 
Where you can lodge; I know each cove and 

shingle. 
Will you accept the shelter of our roof? 

Montfaucon. 

We seek the house of the great Herser Bjorn. 
His forefathers were mine, and I have brought 
My wife to see the Norsemen's fabled land. 

Sintram. 
Bjorn is my father, I will take you there. 



ACT II 65 

Montfaucon. 

Strange chance, that we should meet thus, brand 
to brand. 

Gabrielle. 

How did it happen that you were informed 
Of our arrival, for we sent no word? 

Sin tram. 

The Fates above us, as I stood and saw 
The silver spears of morning strike the Fjord, 
Showed me a gleaming shield hung in the sky, 
And chanted, "Watch, thy fate is kind to thee" ; 
Upon the shield was glassed a wondrous face, 
Framed with bright hair, that Frodi, our great 

Skald, 
Beheld in waking dreams, sun-interwoven. 

Montfaucon. 
You do not fear these Northern men, my love? 

Gabrielle, 
When you are at my side, what should I fear? 

Sin tram. 

If you will follow, I will guide you there. 
My mother's seat is empty, in the Hall ; 
But Bjorn will greet you with a joyful heart. 

CURTAIN 



Scene II 

The Hall at Framness. 
Montfaucon, Bjorn, Sintram, Gabrielle, and at- 
tendants of both houses. 

Bjorn. 
If forewarned, Cousin, we had offered you 
Reception more befitting. Tapestries 
Verena hung, for guests, on wall and bench, 
And had the tables spread with store of cheer; 
While all our neighbors should have graced the 

board 
In best apparel. I myself had donned 
Instead of this rough soldier's cloak 
And farmer's garb, my surcoat made of silk, 
And leather boots with clanking golden spurs 
And helmet gilt. 

Montfaucon, 
Stand not on ceremony. 
Welcome is oft more cordially expressed 
By the extended hand of workday use, 
Than by an outward show of expectation. 

Bjorn, 
We're glad to have you here; and whosoe'er 
Offers you harm shall die, — Bjorn breaks no oath: 
I swear't. Ye all have heard. 
66 



ACT II 67 

Montfaucon. 

Thanks, from my heart. 

A Retainer. 

[To Montfaucon. 
My lord, where do you wish us to bestow 
The things we carry? 

Bjorn. 

I will show the way; 
So you will not refuse our simple fare. 

Sintram. 

[Exeunt Montfaucon, Bjorn, Gabrielle and 
attendants. 
She hangs upon his arm like mantling snow 
Upon the mountain's strong and slaty ribs, 
Or as a silver-decked, slim-waisted birch 
Mingles its foliage with the hemlock's green. 
I've seen the slopes of this deep noiseless Fjord 
Stripped of their vesture by the battle axe, 
And in the clearing, grain, tossed by the wind. 
So does my spirit, shorn of martial thoughts, 
Bend at her glance. He said to me: "You owe 
Your life to Gabrielle," An angel's name — 
His who first brought the message of Redemption. 
O gracious minister! 

[Enter Asmodeus. 

Asmodeus. 

You do not oft 
Indulge in day-dreams. 



68 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

What have you to do 
With dreams of mine? 

Asmodeus. 

Mere idle inquiry. 
Sintram. 
You came unbidden to our Yuletide feast. 

Asmodeus. 
Not altogether unbidden did I stay. 

Sintram. 
Whence art thou ? Answer. 

Asmodeus. 

Look in yonder shield. 
[He points to a shield on the mall. Sintram 
looks into it and starts. 

Sintram. 
I see myself. 

Asmodeus. 

A substance corporal 
Is granted me when you look at yourself. 
Sintram, you drank the loving cup with me, 
And sealed a solemn compact hard to break. 

Sintram. 

Have I not done your bidding: nearly lost 
My life and lost my honor? 



ACT II 69 

Asmodeus. 

You have won 
What is not bought too dear with any loss, 
The visit of this Baron to your close 
That brings with it a presence very fair. 

Sintram. 

If you allude to Lady Gabrielle, 

I pray you will not mention her to me. 

Asmodeus. 

A wise request, but beauty, like the sun, 
Beams generously and will not be concealed. 

[Sings. 
"Her eyes are blue as larkspur on the Fjeld, 
And like the ripened barley gleams her hair." 

[Enter Bjorn. 
Bjorn. 

Why have you summoned back that stranger 
Knight ? 

Sintram. 

I never called him, he invites himself. 

Bjorn. 

[Apart to Sintram. 
He is unknown to any of our house. 
Keep a close eye on him. 

Asmodeus. 

There is no need, 
Good Herser, of surveillance. As a friend 
I came one night and gave your son advice 
Which he has since seen fit to act upon. 



70 SINTRAM 

Bjorn. 

[To Sintram. 
If you are satisfied, why so am I. 
Sintram, I have invited Montfaucon 
And Lady Gabrielle to view our lands; 
I wait upon them, will you go with us? 

Sintram. 
I will. 

Bjorn. 

[To Asmodeus. 
Sir, will you ride? 

Asmodeus. 

Your humble servant. 

Sintram. 
I'll order Rimfaxe and another mount. 

Asmodeus. 

No hand has ever drawn the girth for me. 
Saddle your horse, and I will ride my own. 

CURTAIN 



Scene III 

A Glen above Framness. [Showing waterfall.] 
Enter Bjorn, Asmodeus, Sintram, Montfaucon, 
Gabrielle and a Page. 

Sin tram. 

[To Page. 

Look to the horses till I call for them. 

[To Gabrielle. 
You see why I suggested we dismount. 
To ride up here were hard and perilous. 
This is the spot where it is said the Troll 
That still inhabits yonder waterfall 
Under those tumbled stones, killed the young maid. 

Gabrielle. 
How fierce the spirits of your mountains are! 

Bjorn. 
What tale of dread were you recounting, boy? 

Sintram. 

I merely told the story of the Foss. 
A maid came out to meet her lover here. 
A Troll disguised, who won her for his bride; 
But at the trysting place the Troll resumed 
7i 



72 SINTRAM 

His goblin shape and then devoured her. 
You see his work, the pile of boulders thrown 
Across the stream to make a dwelling place. 
Even in the winter silence, when the ice 
Upon the water's laughter lays its hand, 
You hear the snoring of the Troll below. 

[Sintram wander? out of sight. 

Bjorn. 
The Giants sleep in all these fastnesses. 

Montfaucon. 

You have great need to watch yourselves, thus 

ringed 
With beings of the nether world. 

Asmodeus. 

Their touch 
But brushes good men's garments, and no more. 

[Sintram returns holding up a sword. 

[To Sintram. 

What have you found among those blighted rocks? 

Sintram. 

I clambered down the cleft to ascertain 

If it were possible to glimpse the Fjord 

From the far side; and in the shuffled leaves 

Pierced through with sappy shoots, I thought I saw 

A glowing coal : I found a buried sword. 

So heavy is it, and so ably wrought, 

Some godlike hero of the elder days 

Must once have owned it. See the carbuncle 

That burns upon the hilt. No armourer 



ACT II 73 

Of human cunning ever could anneal 
This elfin leafage, and Hispanian smiths 
Inlay no purer fillet on blue steel. 

Montfaucon. 

The characters are Runic. I believe 
The Trolls of Iceland in their silver caves 
Surely devised them. 

Gabrielle. 

I have heard a bard 
Who struck the harp in halls of Gascony, 
Sing of a sword like this. 

Montfaucon. 

'Twas Frithiof's. 

Bjorn. 

The saying goes that noble Frithiof 

Tempted to slay the King, who through the wood 

Was riding with his wife, as you were now, — 

(Because Queen Ingeborg and Frithiof 

Had weaved together wreaths of early love,) 

Ungirt his sword to cut temptation short 

And threw it from him. Ring's realm lay out there 

Full many a mile to westward. If indeed 

This is great Frithiof's Angurwadel, then 

He must have hurled it clear across the sea. 

[Sintram girds the sword. 

Asmodeus. 
I would not gird that sword if I were you. 



74 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

Advice, in this resembling alms, my friend, 
Is apt to be unwelcome if unasked. 

Bjorn. 

Lord Montfaucon, if you will follow me 

Across a steep and dangerous defile 

That yokes the mountains yonder, you shall see 

The anchorage that cradled Norman venture. 

The Lady Gabrielle had best remain 

In this more sheltered spot till we return ; 

And Sintram will be proud to play the squire. 



[To Gabrielle. 



Sintram. 
Most gladly will I serve her. 

Asmodeus. 

So will I. 
This mountain climbing is not to my taste. 

Montfaucon. 
My lady, will you be content to stay? 

Gabrielle. 

We shall await you on this ledge of rocks, 
But do not linger. 

Bjorn. 

We shall not be gone 
Much longer than the space that shall bring round 
The shadow of this ash tree to your feet. 

[Exeunt Montfaucon and Bjorn. 



ACT II 75 

Asmodeus. 
The Baron seems at home among these cliffs 
That threaten death to unfamiliar tread. 

Gabrielle. 
And yet he saw the light in Normandy; 
Nor has he visited this land before. 

Asmodeus. 
He has the bearing of the rightful heir 
Come back to claim a long lost heritage. 

Gabrielle. 

If the free breath that blows upon the Fjeld 
Be an inheritance, it is his own 

Sin tram. 

He said as much when first he spoke to me. 
Deign but to set your foot upon my cloak, 

[He spreads his cloak upon the rock. 
I will enthrone you on this regal seat. 

Gabrielle. 
I hope your father will remember, Sir, 
There are no frozen steeps in Normandy. 

Asmodeus. 
Lord Montfaucon rides well, there is no danger. 

Sin tram. 

[To Gabrielle. 
You say that in the duchy which you grace 
Our icy wildernesses are unknown? 



76 SINTRAM 

Gabrielle. 

[Laughing. 
Oh, quite unknown ! When the good sun withdraws 
His summer warmth, the air is chill and raw, 
While sea winds like your own bring fog and rain. 
Not long we lose the sight of meadow lands, 
Beneath a winding sheet. Spring soon returns 
And with it robins in the orchard trees, 
And blossoms on the bough. Still further south, 
In Gascony, where I wove marguerites 
With my young sisters, into crown and chain, 
Sitting beside a fountain whose warm brim 
Was kissed all the round year with laughing beams, 
We scarcely knew the touch of winter cold. 

Sin tram. 
I do not wonder that you are so fair. 

Asmodeus. 

Helen had not such golden locks, I trow, 
When she set Greek and Trojan by the ears. 

Gabrielle. 

No Christian woman should receive the name 
Of Grecian Helen as a compliment. 

Asmodeus. 
Your squire keeps silence but agrees with me. 

Sin tram. 
I do not know the tale of which you speak. 



ACT II 77 

Asmodeus. 

Not know the tale of Troy? Ill nurtured skalds 
Have sung your songs of minstrelsy, my lord. 

Sin tram. 

Our skalds but sing the sagas they have heard 
If you remember it, why, sing it then. 

Asmodeus. 

A snatch or two of it may come to me, 

For I have heard it in the banquet hall 

Where linen-robed, in such harmonious folds 

As made their motions music, men and maids 

Sat crowned with violet and asphodel. 

The chequered floor, whereon the daylight fell 

Through grapevine trellises, was half concealed 

With scattered rose leaves. Water slowly dropped 

From the wide conch a Triton held aloft, 

(A fabled monster of the deep, half man 

Half fish) upon whose sinuous flanks and beard 

Deceptive hues of sea-green touched the bronze. 

Apples of gold hid in the glossy leaves 

That screened the entrance of the cool retreat, 

And mid-day glared unnoticed on the dust 

And on the toil of the hot world without. 

Sin tram. 

Such sights our Berserkers have ne'er described 
When they returned from raids in the south sea. 
They say no tide affects that sea of dreams 
Which the enamoured moon beholds entranced. 



78 SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 
Its waters bathe the shores where Helen dwelt. 

Gabrielle. 
You speak of them as one who knows them well. 

Asmodeus. 

I long have known her people, and have trod 

The desert and the sown about their coasts. 

I have beheld the islands bathed in light 

That issue from the turquoise wave at dawn, 

And sun their beauty like the water nymphs 

In shapes of splendour luscious to the eye. 

I have beheld the arid watercourse 

That waves scant verdure in the cruel drought, 

And columned temples rising o'er the vale 

Where hairy Pan blows on his pipe of reed. 

Such was the wondrous home where Helen lived. 

Sin tram. 

Who was this Helen? Was she beautiful 
As Lady Gabrielle's reflection seen 
In a round shield all bossed and chipped with 
blows? 

Asmodeus. 

Her eyes were hued like Lady Gabrielle's, 

And on her forehead was a diadem — 

A hidden diadem — that gave her power 

To make all men her thralls. King Menelaus — 

Her husband — was engaged in distant wars, 

And she sat weaving, weaving at the loom; 



ACT II 79 

While as she cast the shuttle back and forth, 
The Queen of Beauty, (Goddess some have said) 
A wondrous vision, near and tangible, 
Spoke at her side: "Weave, weave, the spell of fate; 
Cast to and fro the shuttle of thy loom. 

[Music. 
All men are thine, since love is in thy gift, 
Then live and love and conquer while you may." 

Gabrielle. 
How long Lord Folko tarries on the hills! 

Sintram. 

[To Asmodeus. 
What then, what happened then? 

Asmodeus. 

Then from the glade 
That wound to Menelaus' palace came 
A plaintive call upon a shepherd's flute. 
She knew the sound that mingled with the voice 
Of morn and eve. But now no shepherd boy 
Blew as he went. It was a stranger Prince, 
Young Paris, who, on hearing of the queen, 
Came in disguise as Menelaus' guest, 
And lost his heart when he beheld her face. 
For at his side the same Enchantress stood, 

[Music. 
As she who sang to Helen, and she said : 
"The ship lies anchored on the tideless sea, 
And youth is thine, and Helen may be thine." 
I know a tower shall stand as long as Troy. 
Weigh anchor, for the ship is on the sea. 



80 SINTRAM 

Sin tram. 

[To Gabrielle. 
If you will mount, my lady, I will guide 
Your palfrey back to Framness ; it is cold, 
And you are trembling in the sudden chill. 

Gabrielle. 

The sun is hidden, let us wend our way 
Unto the house. 

Asmodeus. 

I will not go with you. 

Sintram. 

[To Page. 
Bring up White Cloud for Lady Gabrielle. 

[As the Page is about to go. 
Lead my horse, Page, for I will walk the way. 
And when the Lord of Montfaucon returns, 
Say I have borne the lady back to hall. 

[Sintram and Gabrielle move away. 

Asmodeus. 

I do not need to go! the spell is cast; 

And thou are netted in a silken web 

That it will take a Frithiof's strength to break. 

CURTAIN 



Scene IV 

The Hall at Framness. 
Montfaucon and Bjorn. 

Montfaucon. 

Your land whose virgin girdle is the sea 
Doth hold herself aloof from intercourse. 

Bjorn. 

We Northmen are not strangers to the world. 
Our ships, as you're aware, Lord Montfaucon, 
Have taken us to many distant shores, 
Nor would your smiling Duchy of Normandy 
Have been your own if this had not been so. 

Montfaucon. 

Indeed, the conqueror's path has so far proved 
The Northman's course. I thought of peaceful 

ways, 
Of busy craftsmen, and of merchant ships. 
I've not observed that you have much of these. 

Bjorn. 

Of bartering and toiling little is thought 
Where the free lance and falchion make men rich. 
81 



82 SINTRAM 

Montfaucon. 

These are but primitive essays ; true strength 
Comes of the trained hand and the opulent mart. 

Bjorn. 

I marvel much to hear a belted knight 
Speak with such warmth of trade. 

Montfaucon. 

Beyond the waters 
That bound you to the South, there is a League 
Of prosperous merchants known for worthiness. 
They are my friends, and I shall draw the sword 
When it is needful, to support those men. 

Bjorn. 
Your knightly sword! 

Montfaucon. 

Barons of Montfaucon 
Have ever held themselves sole judges, Sir, 
As to the use they made of their good blade. 

Bjorn. 
Pardon me then, but you astonished me. 

Montfaucon. 
Nay, in all friendliness. 

\He extends his hand. 
[Enter Sintram. 
But since we touch 
Upon the subject, I should like to know 
If there be in these parts a haunted house 



ACT II 83 

Of which my friends Gothard and Rudolph Lentz 
Told me a tale that I should not believe 
From other lips than theirs. 

Bjorn. 

There may be such; 
Our land is full of mysteries; the sun 
Leaves us so oft, night holds a reign prolonged 
Part of the year when evil holds full sway. 

[Sintram sits down at some distance on a low 
stool, and is carving a drinking bowl during 
the dialogue. 

Montfaucon. 

They hardly knew their whereabouts, were wrecked 
Upon a harsh, inhospitable coast 
Whose general description matches this. 
And when they would have begged for shelter, 
found 

Sintram. 

They sought admittance to the Devil's hold. 

Montfaucon. 
You know the story. Do you know the place? 

Sintram. 

I know the tale as one remembers well 

A vision seen in nightmare. There is more; 

An angel saved your friends. 

Montfaucon. 

They told me so. 



84 , SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

And one who would have been their murderer 
Bound on his son an oath so terrible 

Bjorn. 
Sintram, you're mad! 

Sintram. 

If so, whose fault is it? 

[To Montfaucon. 
He staked his son's soul on a throw of dice, — 
And lost. 

[Exit Sintram. 
Montfaucon. 

His manner would arouse suspicion 
If I were not a guest, here in your house. 

Bjorn. 

You need not grope in darkness for a clue; 
Bjorn of the Fiery eyes has never worn 
The cloak of falsehood. If you want to avenge 
Your trading burghers, it was at my hands 
They nearly met their death, and here am I. 

Montfaucon. 

I guessed it, Bjorn. 

Bjorn. 

Well, then, let justice fall. 
My panoply of arms I will not use. 
I cannot cross with you. 

[He kneels. 



ACT II 85 

Montfaucon. 

Although you breathe uncommon cruelty 
If you be truly he that would have killed 
Two men who asked your hospitality, 
Yet you have offered Gabrielle and me 
The shelter you denied them. Who am I 
To be the avenger of an unwrought crime, 
When I have broken bread beneath your roof? 
Rise, Herser, I shall call you to account 
When next you stain your honor, not till then. 

Bjorn. 

Our skalds have sung the deeds of Montfaucon 

Whom none has ever vanquished, and I deemed 

His steel could but inflict a glorious death, 

Since I was twice debarred from meeting him 

Unworthy, and unable, as his host. 

Tomorrow we engage, on Niflung's Heath, 

Jarl Eric's forces, and the challenge sent 

To us on Christmas Eve, which we accepted then, 

Will bring us to the trial of our strength, 

That shall decide if we be freemen still. 

Lord Folko, will you join in the affray? 

Montfaucon. 

Though not a partner to your lawless deeds, 
I will not let my kinsman lack support 
In any righteous grievance. 

Bjorn. 

Judge the cause. 
We always have been masters of the Fjord. 
Our ancestors were Vikings, as were thine; 



86 . SINTRAM 

And now we must submit to Haakon's son 
Who sets his heel on us till we cry "King!" 
We will defend our ancient liberties. 

Montfaucon. 

We Normans do not look with friendly eye 
On one who reigning in the Isle of France 
Lays just such claim. I'll not decline to fight. 

[Exeunt Montfaucon and Bjorn. 
[Enter Sintram and Rolf. 

Rolf. 

Your friends who turned their backs on the attack 
Which they refused to countenance are here, 
And they beg speech of you. 

[Enter Harold, Ivor and Effil. 

Effil. 

We've come to say, 
Sintram, you promised us a reckoning 
For leaving you to plunder Montfaucon. 

Sintram. 
I should be chary of my banter, then. 

Harold. 

It seems your cousin measured swords with you, 
And only spared you at a lady's plea. 

Sintram. 
You cannot have betaken yourselves far. 



ACT II 87 

Ivar. 

Nay, Sven and Sote hid among the rocks 
And watched the issue. 

Egil 

Check your fury, now. 

Sintram. 
How long do you expect me so to do? 

Harold. 
As long as to accept apologies. 

Ivar. 
You were deserted, and you fought alone. 

Sintram. 
I thought you spurned the enterprise. 

Ivar. 

Even so 
We should not willingly have seen you fall. 

Sintram. 

I do not think there is a man alive 

Can say I begged of him to share my fate: 

It was disgrace I challenged, and I won. 

Egil. 
You talk most bitterly. 



88 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

Then talk no more. 
We fight tomorrow morn in Niflung's Heath, 

Harold. 
And we go with you, Sintram. 

Sintram. 

Thank you, friends ; 
There honor's the reward, or all is lost. 

CURTAIN 



Scene V 

(Nifluna's Heath.) 
Enter Bjorns men in confusion, wounded and 
defeated. 

ist Man. 

It goes against us, there is no hope now. 

[Clash of arms and cries in the distance, 

2nd Man. 

I saw young Sintram as we fled. He fought 
With mighty valor, but his luck has turned. 

3rd Man. 

Eric advances and our force gives way. 

[Enter a wounded man. 

ist Man. 
How goes it where you came from? 

Wounded Man. 

They retreat, 
And step by step move nearer to the sea. 

2nd Man. 
They'll be thrown into it. 
89 



go i SINTRAM 

Wounded Man. 

The're strewn as thick 
As withered leaves before the gale, and Bjorn 
With ineffectual rage doth swing his axe, 
Though Thor himself were scarce more terrible. 
He rallies them a space, they hurl themselves 
At the resistance of unbroken lines, 
And blow away like foam. 

[Cries. 

The Bear! The Bear! 

[Enter Sintram, Harold, Egil, and Ivor. 

Sintram. 

Lord Montfaucon has taken up his stand 
Against a rock. Backed by his followers, 
He holds the foe at bay. Bjorn drives his prey 
Upon the spear of Folko. 

[Enter men in flight from all sides. 
Cowards! There 
The fight is going on, not here! 



ist Man. 
We find you here, my lord 



And yet, 



Sintram. 

I came to stir 
A spark of fire in you and cry you back 
To glory from dishonorable flight. 

2nd Man. 

We fight as well as any, but they thrust 
Upon us with such force we must give way. 



ACT II 91 

3rd Man. 
We could not hold against that arrow-hail. 

S intrant. 

Cowards ! If you would stiffen, even now, 
Your panic stricken ranks, but for an hour, 
To semblance of resolve, we'd beat them yet. 

[To Harold. 
I still believe if we could gather up 
These ague-shaken churls that flee like deer, 
We could support Lord Folko. 

Effil. 

From this place 
You see the tide of battle ebb and flow. 

Ivar. 

Yes, over there is Eric, forging north — 

To cut off our retreat — there, toward the wood! 

Sin tram. 

I cannot understand it. On! Come on! 
Will you stay here and have us all disgraced? 
Will you see Gabrielle a prisoner? 
She is on yonder hill in Folko's tent. 

[Murmurs. 
Eail. 

[He has kept his eyes on the battle. 
Their leader just has reached the knoll. 

Sintram. 

The King? 



92 SINTRAM 

Egil. 

Not Eric, but the man upon whose sword 

They cast their chance. Look at the golden helm 

Sweeping along above the flood of arms 

That's driving all before it. This is he 

Will rush them on to victory. 

Sintram. 

I see, 
But by the Angel Michael he shall not! 

{Turns to the men. 
If you lie there, then Eric with his foot 
Will make an end of you. Dash forth with me, 
Like hounds upon the wolf's track. You must die 
As women, nursing hurts \murmwhs\ if you hide 

here. 
And never strike another blow. 

Men. 

No! —No! 
We'll fight! We'll rout them! Sintram! Sintram! 
ho! 
[They rush out with Sintram at their head. 

CURTAIN 



Scene VI 

The Edge of the Forest. 

Center stage, the tent of Montfaucon. Gabrielle, 
attendants and guards. 

Gabrielle. 

The sound of fighting reaches far. They seem 
To give fierce battle. Heaven defend my lord! 

[She comes to the tent door. 

i st Attendant. 

Jarl Eric is a fearless chief, they say, 

And he will have the whole land own him king. 

Gabrielle. 

All tell of his unconquered arm. Alas, 
We can but hope with so few to support, 
Our forces yet may win. 

2nd Attendant. 

Lord Montfaucon 
Is in himself a host. 

Gabrielle. 

Heaven prosper him! 

[Enter a Messenger. 
93 



94 SINTRAM 

Messenger. 
A message for my lady. 

Gabrielle. 

Oh! What news? 
Messenger. 

Between the Heath and this, to bring you word — 

IVe crawled and swum and struggled like a rat. 

Thus says my lord: "We're backed against a rock, 

And here I take my stand. The enemy 

Is still advancing. Rescue may be late. 

If all goes ill, receive the King and ask 

That he will let thee reach my ship. Farewell." 

Gabrielle. 
Go to your lord and tell him he must win. 

[Loud cries and a sound of trumpets. 
[Exit Messenger. 
The tumult nears us, then let us make ready. 

Guard. 
That is the battle cry of Bjorn. 



Attendant. 

Gabrielle. 
Whose banners dost thou see? 



They come! 



Guard. 

The gold and blue 
Of Montf aucon ; the Bear of Bjorn. 

[Cries. 
The Bear! 



ACT II 95 

[Enter Bjorn and Montfaucon in triumph at 
the head of their men. Sintram, {with Jarl 
Eric as his prisoner). Thore, Egil, Harold, 
Ivar, and others. Eric's followers as pris- 
oners. Eric is riding bound. 

Sintram. 

We did but mean to show the King the stuff 
Of which the men of Roga land are made. 

[To Sote. 
Set Eric loose and hold his stirrup, — so. 

Bjorn. 

We Hersers are free men, and free remain, 
Lord King. But all in friendship. 

Montfaucon. 

Had the end 
Proved other than it did, you would, I know, 
Have acted as did we. 

Jarl Eric. 

I do not think 
That your rebellion ever would have won 
Such clemency of me as this reverse 
Of ours has drawn from you. 

Bjorn. 

Lord Montfaucon. 
I would present my cousin to the King. 

Jarl Eric. 

[To Montfaucon. 
You are of France? 



96 SINTRAM 

Montfaucon. 

From Normandy, my Lord, 
But kinsman to the Bjorn. My lady waits 
Within, to pay her homage to the King. 

[They enter the tent together. 

Thore. 

Why do they thus relent, just as they hold 
The Stallion by the mane? 

Ivor. 

His standard shows 
The stallion that has ravaged England's coasts. 

Effil. 

Sintram, who took him prisoner, declared 
He would not for his maiden feat consent 
To do dishonor to the lawful King. 

Harold. 
His maiden feat? Has he not fought before? 

Effil. 

Aye, but he never yet had seen pitched battle, 
And he is moderate in victory. 

Harold. 

He has bethought him that the loving cup 
Is fruitful of more profit than the sword. 

Ivar. 
Sintram is now swayed by a lady's eyes. 



ACT II 97 

Thore. 

Howe'er that be, he fought most valiantly. 

The day had almost ended in defeat. 

Jarl Eric's men surrounded us. The Bear 

Was all but vanquished, though he snarled, and 

showed 
His mettle still, and like a sinking mast, 
His banner wavered. Then alone, afoot, 
Barehead, and battle-axe in hand, the boy 
Sprang down into the thickest of the fray. 
The ringing blows about him fell, but he, 
Careless of all beside, strove steadily 
To cut a swath until he reached the man 
Who led their battle front, and struck him down 
With such impetuous onslaught as defied 
The opposing might of their defense. They broke, 
And like a wave they rolled across the heath. 

Ivor. 

[To Egil. 
You fought beside him? 

Effil. 

Yea, I saw him do it. 
Confusion then made havoc in their host; 
And we recovered, while, a prisoner, 
Jarl Eric fell into young Sintram's hands. 

[Bjorn, Montfaucon and Sintram issue from 
the tent. 

Bjorn. 

Jarl Eric, whom by courtesy we call 
Our King, has been released. 



98 SINTRAM 

Jarl Eric. 

\_To S intrant, 
I honor, Sir, 
Your very generous treatment. If a horse 
You'll lend me for the journey, I will leave 
Your company to revels of the hour, 
And with my good Huscarl, ride on to-night. 

Sintram. 

If I may ask a question of you, Sir, 

Who was the man whose marvellous prowess 

Was well nigh fatal to our arms this day? 

Jarl Eric. 

That I cannot well answer. He appeared 
Last night and no one saw him enter camp. 
He said he could unfold your secret plans, 
Which he described in accurate detail, 
As the engagement demonstrated. Then 
He offered counter strategy, whereon 
My warriors all adopted his advice. 
His strength was so prodigious that the men 
Ascribed it to a superhuman arm. 
And brave as you have shown yourself to be, 
I should not think you had defeated him 
Had I not with mine eyes seen him go down. 

Bjorn. 

Two trusty servants whom we sent to give 
The Knight a Christian burial, returned 
To say that searching all of Niflung's Heath, 
They could not find his body anywhere. 

[Sintram crosses himself. 



ACT II 99 

[To J arl Eric. 
We'll enter into friendly treaty now, 
Jarl Eric, by your leave, made stronger, each, 
With help instead of hindrance from the other. 

[Sintram is conferring aside with the Jarls. 

Jarl Eric. 

I solemnly consent to be your friend, 
And the sworn ally of your dauntless son. 

[Page brings out a cup. Eric and Sintram 
drink. As Sintram takes the cup in his hand 
he suddenly becomes tense and absent, but 
rouses himself with an effort. 

Sintram. 

My comrades then will act as hostages, 

In pledge of our good faith ; and these we keep 

[Pointing to the prisoners. 
Our prisoners, as a guaranty of yours. 

Jarl Eric. 

You have my word. 

[Turns to the horse that is brought out, and 
salutes Montfaucon. 

[To Gabrielle. 

Farewell, thou noble dame. 

[Exeunt Eric, Ivar, Harold, Egil and the 

King's Huscarl. 
[Sintram is unarmed by a Squire who takes his 
sword, helmet, and buckler; he then joins 
the others grouped outside. Gabrielle and 
Montfaucon enter the open tent. 



ioo SINTRAM 

Gabrielle. 

[To Montfaucon. 
Oh, my good lord, right glad am I to see 
Your face once more, 

[She begins to remove his armour. 
for I was torn with fear 
When you sent me that word. 

Montfaucon. 

[Approaches the door of tent. 
If I am here, 
Alive now, safe and sound, and if the day 
Has not gone down in black defeat the man 
To thank for it stands there. 

[Montfaucon points to Sintram. 
[Enter Bjorn and Thore into the tent. 

Bjorn. 

[W ho has not heard. 
I'll seek my tent, 
But leave my page with you to serve you both 
In what you may desire. 

[Montfaucon is speaking apart with Gabrielle. 

Montfaucon. 

Thank you, Sir Bjorn. 
[Minstrel strikes his harp as if to sing. Bjorn 
pauses. 
Before the minstrel sings of victory 
A duty must be done. Sintram, come forth. 

[Montfaucon, Gabrielle, Sintram descend to 



ACT II 101 

center with their attendants. Meanwhile 
groups of men and women have formed 
outside. 

[To Gabrielle. 
Gird this young warrior, lady, with thy hand, 
And I will knight him. He has won his spurs. 

[Sintram is entirely unarmed, but a squire 
approaches, bearing his helm, spear and 
buckler. Montfaucon speaks apart to a page 
who brings him from a chest of arms in the 
tent a sword with a gold baldric J which 
Montfaucon places in the hands of Gabrielle. 
She girds Sintram with the baldric over one 
shoulder, and the sword. Sintram then 
kneels before Montfaucon. 
For God's good service, and in the defence 
Of Woman and the right, I dub thee Knight. 

[He gives Sintram the accolade. Sintram arms 
fully with spurs and helm, takes the spear 
from squire and lowers it before Gabrielle. 
She removes her silk girdle and attaches it 
to the spear-head. 

Gabrielle. 

For holy Church and all good women, fight. 

[Sintram stands speechless. He then lowers 
the spear and puts his lips to the scarf. 
Sintram. 
Whoever in our land accepts a sword 
Becomes thereby the liegeman of the giver. 

CURTAIN 



Scene VII 

The Same. 
Evening. 
Gabrielle, Montfaucon and Sintram in the tent. 
Gabrielle is playing on a lute. 

Gabrielle. 

[To Sintram. 
You are so much unlike the lawless boy 
Who greeted our arrival with the sword, 
I'll not deny you now, the use of this, 

[Gives him the lute. 
To sing the song you have within your heart. 
You are a Bard, Sir Sintram, and must sing, 
Like glossy-throated blackbirds in the thorn. 

Sintram. 

That you do ask it, lady, is enough. 
Not on your lute. And yet I have a song 
I lately made, that I will sing to you. 

[To Page. 

Fetch from my tent the harp you'll find there, boy. 

[Exit Page, and returns with the harp. In the 

interval, Gabrielle has been playing in 

silence. 

102 



ACT II 103 

Sintram. 

[Taking the harp. 
I carved this of the wood of Igdrasil, 
The tree of life, that gives both life and death. 

[He sings. 
Ride, ho! Ride, ho! Whither art thou going? 
Sword and spur, sword and spur, is it of my 
knowing ? 
While the blossoms fall like snow, 
To the distant shores I go, 
Where the May is blowing. 
Long-boat, long-boat, whither art thou driving? 
Through the gates of the West where the sun is 
diving. 
When he sinks the day is done; 
Stars, I'll sail without the sun 
To my lone arriving. 

Gabrielle. 

Sintram, thy song doth suit my fancy well. 

[Sings. 
To the distant shores I go 
Where the May is blowing. 

[To Montfaucon. 
Shall we not soon revisit them, my Lord? 
I long to see the shores of Normandy. 

Montfaucon. 

We now with safety can return to France, 
And we shall sail if such is your desire, 
Though with regret we leave our cousins here. 



104 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

As with regret your cousins see you leave. 
Goodnight, the hour is late. 

Montfaucon. 

Grand merci, boy, 
Thou hast the soul of poesy in thee. 

[Lights are brought in. Sintram kisses the 
hand of Gabrielle and leaves the tent. The 
curtains are slowly dropped behind him. 

Sintram. 

The night of which I sang enshrouds my sight. 

The devils held in bondage to my will 

Are now let loose. I will not fight them, no. 

Let them come, all! If she must leave me, then 

I'll fight no more. Black spirits, one and all 

Come, and we'll dance our Sabbath round on graves 

Till with their howls the fiends arouse the dead. 

[Enter Rolf. 
Rolf. 

What is this frantic outburst ? Holy Saints ! 

Sintram. 
Rolf, rid my path or I will strike thee. 

Rolf. 

Why, 
Sintram, thou dost break all bounds of reason. 

Sintram. 
I know no bounds, I am destruction, I. 



ACT II 105 

Rolf. 

Thou art indeed destruction to thyself. 
What has befallen? 

Sintram. 
Let me pass! 

Rolf. 

Not so; 
Thou wilt go whirling down the precipice 
That lies behind: hast thou forgotten it? 

Sintram. 

No memory have I, no thought but this: 
While the blossoms fall like snow 
To the distant shores I go, 

Where the May is blowing. 
And so a boat is putting out to sea, 
Down to the sunset, bearing off my soul. 

Rolf. 

I cannot tell if thou be truly mad 
Or else distraught with very sinful thoughts. 
Thy father left thee much to me. I trained 
Thy boyhood in the use of sword and lance. 
And thou hast had severest discipline 
Administered at this same hand, which thou 
Hast taken like Bjorn's son with folded arms. 
Canst thou not bide as well the blows of Fate? 
Would that thou wert a boy again. I come 
From Drontheim, where the Priest who doth confess 
Thy mother, 



io6 SINTRAM 

Sin tram. 
Name her not! 

Rolf. 

Why so? 
Sintram. 

Henceforth 

She must forget she ever had a son, 

Lest my unquiet spirit visit her. 

Ah ! Do not seek to hold me back. Stand off ! 

As well attempt to clutch the spinning moon. 

[Sintram tears away and Rolf sinks to his 
knees. 

CURTAIN 



Scene VIII 

A Cliff above the Sea. 
Distant sound of breakers and rising wind at inter- 
vals. The spot is wild and solitary, and about it 
are ruins of ancient tombs. Music. 

Sin tram. 
It is not light or dark, not night or day. 
How broad and still the bosom of the deep ! 
Canst thou rock misery to sleep, O Sea? . . . 
I've ridden thee harder than any horse, 
I've sought unknown horizons at thy call, 
And courted wreck exultingly with thee. 
Or when the bark was floating at thy will, 
I have lain down upon thy heart and slept, 
With naught but gull-cries on the solitude 
To break thy murmur pulsing in my ear. 
Now, let me leap to thine embrace and sink 
Till earth's forgotten, — till all things become 
As empty shells swept by the tide. 

[He approaches the edge of the cliff, and as he 
does so, groans are heard. 

Whose voice 
Sounds in the brake? 

Asmodeus. 

[Unseen. 
The echo of thine own. 
107 



108 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 
I do not weep . . . 

Asmodeus. 
Ha! Ha! 

Sintram. 

Nor do I laugh. 
What mirth should thus arise from the dry grass 
That rustles in the wind? 

Asmodeus. 

Like it ye are! 
Green at the morn, then sear. 

Sintram. 

What art thou, speak! 
Asmodeus. 
Ah ! Some would shed salt tears to see thee cast 
Thy goodly purse of gold into the sea 
While men are starving: therefore do I laugh. 
And some would laugh to see thee standing there, 
Ready and willing to destroy thyself, 
And therefore do I groan. If thou shouldst leap 
To close thy nuptials with the fickle brine 
Thou'dst leave but little glory to thy name. 

Sintram. 

About this place are tombs of heroes strewn, 
Who reaped their laurels in the great ordeal, 
And were borne up to Walhall or to Heaven, 
Whichever it be. One such hour have I known. 



ACT II 109 

Asmodeus. 

Nay, never think of that fine baldric, now, 
Your adversary has not been interred. 

Sintram. 

We sought to give him burial where he fell, 
But could not find him. 

Asmodeus. 

No. Six foot of earth 
Should scarcely cover him whom you engaged. 

[He rises and discovers himself. 
You sorry Christian Knight! Upon the field 
Your valor wears impostor's panoply; 
I am the man you thought you overcame 
On Niflung's Heath. I let you win the day, 
That so your vaunted dignity might be 
Unhorsed and bite the dust beneath my tread. 
Thou art stripped naked of thine honors now. 

Sintram. 
So am I shorn of all. 

Asmodeus. 

And what of that? 
I fooled thee in good part, I am thy friend. 

Sintram. 
Alas! 

Asmodeus. 

Stay, I will prove it to thee. 



no SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

Peace. 

Asmodeus. 

Thou'rt like a candle burning itself out 
And spluttering at the socket. 

[Sintram makes a gesture of despair. 
Hear me, — 

Sintram. 

Nay, 
What more hast thou to wreak upon me? 

Asmodeus. 

Bah! 
Thou dost resent my frankness. I but said 
The truth. 

Sintram. 

Who should divine why you have spared 
My life, unless to revel in the sight 
Of ruin slowly wrought! 

Asmodeus. 

You are in love. 
And like a man who seeks another face 
To ease regret, you sought the inconstant sea. 
But what if I indeed should prove a friend? 
A wizard of the tempest? I can set 
A foaming fury round about the Fjord 
Whose fangs shall threaten Folko's purpose till 
Winter's upon him and he cannot go. 



ACT II in 

Sin tram. 
Thou wicked boaster! Is the storm thy slave? 

Asmodeus. 

Not so, by any means. Herein thou must 
Lend me thine aid ; and if thy steadfast will 
Be fixed to keep thy loved one in thy sight, 

Sintram. 
What wilt thou have for this? 

Asmodeus. 

A lock of thine. 
One of those black, unruly strands that whip 
Thy cheek. 

Sin tram. 
That is not much. 

Asmodeus. 

It is enough. 
[Sintram draws his dagger and cuts off a lock 
of his hair which he gives to Asmodeus and 
then throws his dagger into the sea. Smoke 
envelopes Asmodeus: and streams to sky- 
ward, while heavy clouds begin to float 
across the moon. The sound of breakers 
grows louder rising with music, mysterious 
and bewitching, till it breaks into a storm of 
unbridled violence. At the last, Sintram 
and Asmodeus stand in darkness, illuminated 
at intervals by flashes of lightning, and sil- 
houetted against the sky. 



ii2 SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 

And now, come out upon the very brink, 
Look on the wealthy cargoes that pay toll, 
And drowning men who call to heaven in vain; 
Look down as I do, as the granite rock 
That splits the timber, rue not, pity not, 
But wish with all thy soul thy love may be 
Storm-bound within thy grasp till Winter come. 

CURTAIN 



Scene IX 
The Tent of Montfaucon. 

Morning. 
Gabrielle, Montfaucon, and a Page. 

Page. 
Lord Bjorn sent me to serve you. 

Montfaucon. 

Many thanks. 

Gabrielle. 

Who ever saw so wild a night? 

Montfaucon. 

Not I. 
[Page blows out the light. He then busies him- 
self about the tent while a woman attendant 
entering from the inner tent proceeds to 
braid Gabrielle 's hair. 

Woman. 
The storm seems to abate. 

Montfaucon. 

[To Page. 
Where is thy lord ? 
113 



ii 4 SINTRAM 

Page. 
Which lord? 

Montfaucon. 

Sir Bjorn. 
Page. 

He rides abroad this morn. 
He rose an hour ago, went ranting on, 
And soon as light appeared, rode out to see 
How much of what he owned the storm destroyed. 
He's in no merry mood, I warrant you. 

Montfaucon. 

Since quiet reigns again, my lady and I 
Will take the rest we have not yet enjoyed. 
Do likewise, Page. 

Gabrielle. 

Yes, little Page, go sleep. 
For this has been a night full of alarms 
As any witch's tale. 

Page. 

My Grandam tells 
The story of a Knight who sold his soul 
To win a lady's grace. The Fiend then comes 
For payment, and in such a storm as this, 
'Mid fiery claps of thunder takes his soul. 

Gabrielle. 

[Laughing. 
That was a dreadful tale thy Grandam told. 
No man should lose his soul for woman's love. 



ACT II 115 

[Page raises the arras and exit Gabrielle to 
the inner tent. 

[Enter Sintram. He overhears and stands 
transfixed. He does not at first see Mont- 
faucon who is lying on the couch of skins. 

Page. 

Oh! my lord Sintram! Just as you came in, 
I took you for that grimly Knight you killed, 

[Sintram starts. 
Who wore upon his helm a golden horn. 

Sintram. 

Be gone, and let me not set eyes on thee! 
Unless thou wouldst be parted from thy tongue. 

[Exit Page. Sintram sees Montfaucon. 

Montfaucon. 

You rate the boy right fiercely, now, Sir Knight. 
Perhaps if you but looked into that shield, 
Where your reflected image falls, you'd see 
He is not in the likeness much at fault. 

[Sintram goes to the shield, sees himself in it 
and staggers. 

Montfaucon. 

Where hast thou been, — cloakless, barehead, un- 
armed, 
Through the long hours of this unholy night? 
The very elements are in revolt; 
Trees are uprooted, raging waters swell 
To flood-tide, lightning strikes the farms, 



n6 SINTRAM 

And through the murderous strife, 'twixt heaven 

and hell 
The demons were heard howling. In his fear 
Thy horse all night has whinnied, boding ill, 
And thine own hound scarce knows thee. 



Sintram. 



Montfaucon. 



That may be. 



Rebellious vapors drift across the sky, 

And rally to the bugles of the wind. 

I hear the uproar of the battered pines, 

The shriek of sea mews and the mounting wrath 

Of billows that an incantation swells. 

Magic of no good auspice, — Wrought by whom? 

Sin tram. 

[Controlling himself with a powerful effort. 
I am a herald, Lord of Montfaucon, 
Appointed to the office by a king. 

Montfaucon. 
Come, art thou sane? 

Sintram. 

As sane as thou, and so 
I'll make a proclamation in thine ear: 
Hear ! There is no such thing as victory. 



ACT II 117 

Montfaucon. 

Sintram, beware! He who attempts to break 
The table of stone is made to suffer for it, 
And league with darkness leads but to defeat. 

[Exit Montfaucon. 

Sintram. 

"No man should lose his soul for woman's love." 
Those were the words she said : Then what of me? 

CURTAIN 



ACT III 

Scene I 

Winter. — A forge on the Domain of Framness. 
Armourers working at the forge. Enter Mont- 
faucon and Gabrielle. 

ist Armourer. 

The autumn gales have yielded to the spell 
Of Winter, Montfaucon is snow-bound here. 

Montfaucon. 

[Apart. 
Whose incantations drew the circle round? 

[The men see Montfaucon. 

2nd Man. 

They say this Norman Lord hath outdone all 
In feats of chivalry. 

Gabrielle. 
Your fame has spread. 

3rd Man. 

He dances better than the sturdiest son 
Of these old Fjords. 

118 



ACT III 119 

ist Man. 

Indeed, he dances well. 

4th Man. 

The javelin that he threw, scarce Thambarskelver 
Would have consented to essay. 

Gabrielle. 

My lord, 
Methinks your northern kin will turn your head. 

ist Man. 

And that long dirk he carries, Bjorn brought out 
To offer him, "For Sintram," so he says, 
"Will never wield it as his cousin does, 
When I am gone." 

Montfaucon. 

It was a compliment 
I could have spared, but could not well refuse. 

Gabrielle. 
Did Sintram know of this? 

Montfaucon. 

"Some day," he said, 
"We'll try it, who can tell." 

Gabrielle. 

He hath dark moods. 
Montfaucon. 
Dark as the raven's wing upon his helm. 



120 SINTRAM 

Gabrielle. 

Yet he is gentle too. He makes me feel 

As if a garden open to the sun, 

Were suddenly deep buried in the snow, 

While birds with song half sung stopped short and 

fell 
Frozen, and all the little things that chirp 
So gaily in the grass were hushed as now. 

2nd Man. 

[To Montfaucon. 
There is a trial in which thou art not proven, 
Thou Knight of Normandy. We fain would see 
The skiis upon thy feet, and fleeting down 
The icy banks, we'd have thee outstrip Sintram. 

ist Man. 

Ah ! Sintram on the ice is like the god 
Whose breath slew Balder! 

Montfaucon. 

He is like the storm. 

3rd Man. 

And we would have thee, Lord of Montfaucon, 
Bring back the bear's claw, even as Sintram did. 

Gabrielle. 

You will perform this feat? 

Montfaucon. 

If so you wish. 

CURTAIN 



Scene II 

The Hall at Framness. 

Bjorn, Sintram, Montfaucon, Gabrielle, Rolf, and 
attendants of both houses. They are discovered 
before a huge fireplace, in different attitudes of 
familiar relaxation: Some playing games, others 
singing, one playing an instrument, etc. Gabrielle 
is embroidering. 

Song, 
{Sung in parts) 

Fierce is the voice of the storm, 
But fiercer the warrior's cry; 
As he rings hard blows on the mail, 
Sinks the foe to the realm of Ran. 

Cold are the ice and the snow, 
That wrap the earth like a shroud; 
But colder the shroud of the dead 
As they lie in the lap of the earth. 

Red is the sparkle of wine, 
And red is the warrior's blood, 
And red is the glow of the fire, 
And red is the love of the heart. 
[Bjorn and Montfaucon are conversing apart. 
There is an empty seat by the fire. Gabrielle is 
embroidering, and Sintram is watching her. 
121 



122 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 
What do you paint with your light needle, Madam? 

Gabrielle. 

This is an orchard close in Normandy, 
And these are apple blossoms, see you not? 

[Music. 
Bjorn. 
Is it forever Spring in Normandy? 

Gabrielle. 

Indeed not so. Our winter days are chill 
And very dull. 

Sintram. 
Not duller than our own. 

Montfaucon. 

We are not bound by snow and ice, in France, 

[Significantly. 
As here we are since winter's reign set in, 
So close upon the heel of autumn gales. 

[Sintram becomes somber. 

Bjorn. 

Sir Folko, when you came, you did not think 
You would thus long be here to hearten us. 

Montfaucon. 

I feel as one who breathes the homeland air, 
And to his mother is a child again. 



ACT III 123 

Rolf. 

[To Montfaucon. 
You are like Balder, the bright sun, who bursts 
In golden armor on the winter world. 
But, Oh! remember even he was not 
Proof against arrows flying in the dark. 

Montfaucon. 

Know you of aught? 

Bjorn. 

Why entertain the thought? 
On Folko's safety I engaged my word. 

Rolf. 

I mind me how all earthly honors fail 
And fear the passing of so fair a fame. 

Montfaucon. 
Thy wisdom shall be treasured faithfully. 

Sintram. 

[To Gabrielle. 
When you are back in that bright home of yours, 
Shall you return upon the wings of thought 
To our pine forest and our sullen Fjord? 

Gabrielle. 
I often shall; could I forget them, ever? 

Sintram. 

You will remember them when happiest, 
As dark things that you gladly left behind. 



i2 4 SINTRAM 

Gabrielle. 

Oh ! Think not so, for in the coming years, 
We always shall remember Framness kindly. 

Sintram. 

The coming years ! Who knows if any one 

In coming years will light the hearth fire here? 

We Northmen have short lives whose thread if not 

Cut by the sword, is of uncertain spinning. 

The Viking dies in harness or he blows 

His breath out battling with the elements. 

We fight the Giants on the mountain height 

Where rolls the bank of snow in thunder down, 

And we are buried with the hurtled rocks 

In yawning clefts where never shines the sun. 

Or on the galley when a sudden storm 

Makes the ship drunk as the relentless winds 

Ravel the cordage, we go reeling down; 

Or on the dreary Fjeldt, where not a hut 

Is seen for many days, we go astray, 

And starve, while standing empty-saddled near, 

Our steed pricks ears to hear the plover's cry. 

Gabrielle. 

Why will you dwell upon such gloomy thoughts? 
Nay, you shall tread the halls of Montfaucon, 
Some day when you're our guest, as we are yours. 
\Sinttam moves away and stands near Bjorn 

who is sitting by the fire opposite the empty 

seat. 



ACT III 125 

Bjorn. 

The logs are started, throw another on. 
Would she who should have sat beside the hearth 
Were in her seat ! [He chokes a sob. 

[Sintram leans over the back of Bjorn 's chair, 
gazing absently into the fire. 

Sintram. 

None ever sits there now. 
See how the bark falls off, and how the wood 
Like outstretched arms is naked to the flame, 
Still straining forth to escape the blazing penance 
That wraps it round until it sink to ash. 

A Norman Maid. 

[To a Norseman. 
We've apples here to roast, and good strong mead 
To drink. 

Norseman. 

Damsel, your cheek doth seem to me 
An apple such as Adam was denied. 

Maid. 
Forbidden fruit hath never brought good luck. 

Man 
To taste that fruit I'd challenge any fate. 

Maid. 
It did of Adam make a sadder man. 



126 SINTRAM 

Man. 

A sadder and a wiser. See the Snake 

[Enter Asmodeus. 
Comes in once more. 

Maid. 

And I believe the Snake 
Approaches Sintram. 

Man. 

He hath whispered me 
To take a chance. 

[He tries to kiss her and she brushes him aside 
laughing. 

Maid. 
What says he to your master? 

Man. 

He whispers in his ear of apples too. 

[Gabrielle passes near them. 

Maid. 
It were of lilies, not of apples then. 

Asmodeus. 

[To Sintram. 
How dost thou, Sintram, on this wintry day? 

Sintram. 
You bring the storm within doors. 



ACT III 127 

Asmodeus. 

[Shaking the snow from him. 
Yes, I do. 
[To a Norwegian who is mending a pair of 
skiis. 
Dost thou kill time mending thy skiis, young man? 

Norwegian. 

These are a pair my lord will lend his guest 

Who has none, as they wear them not in France. 



Lord Bjorn? 



Asmodeus. 
Sin tram. 



No, /. 



Asmodeus. 

What will he do with this? 

Sintram. 
We hunt the bear to-morrow, Folko's whim. 

Asmodeus. 
He has no practice in the use of skiis. 

Sintram. 

I have been teaching him, and he is apt. 
He will not be dissuaded from this hunt. 

Asmodeus. 
Did you suggest it? 



128 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 
That I did not. 

Norwegian. 

Sir, 
A new thong should be put in this one. Look. 

Asmodeus. 

Perhaps I have a strip of leather. Wait. 

[Produces a strap. 
Yes, here it is. 

Sintram. 

That strap will never hold 
A weight like Folko's. 

Asmodeus. 

Yes, it will — a while. 

Sintram. 
A while — what mean you? 

Asmodeus. 

On a steep descent 

Norwegian. 

Sir, shall I put it in? 

Asmodeus. 
Yes, it is safe. 



It might give way. 



ACT III 129 

Gabrielle. 

[To Asmodeus. 
Will you not join our game? 
When you came in, we were about to dance. 
For I propose my maids shall show you all 
The rounds of Normandy, and you shall then 
Show us the figures of your land. 

Asmodeus. 

Proceed. 

[Dance. 

[At first Gabrielle, Montfaucon, Sintram, 

Bjorn and Asmodeus are grouped watching 

the figures. Then Montfaucon leads out 

Gabrielle. 

[During all of the following scene the dance 

continues. 

Asmodeus. 

[To Sintram. 
You should have led her out. 

Sintram. 

I cannot dance. 

Asmodeus. 
Then you can play for them; where is your harp? 

Sintram. 
It lies untouched since all the strings are broken. 

Asmodeus. 
It could not well withstand your violence. 



i 3 o SINTRAM 

Bjorn. 

[Approaching Sintram. 
Have you again admitted him, my son? 

Sintram. 
He comes unbidden, I admit him not. 

Asmodeus. 

[To Gabrielle. 
It seems your lord goes hunting on the morrow. 
Do you not fear to let him take the risk 
With his wild northern cousins? 

Gabrielle. 

Montfaucon 
Does not consult me when adventure calls; 
He is too much the Northman still, for that. 

Asmodeus. 
Does Sintram go with him? 

Gabrielle. 

Aye, wherefore ask? 
He surely is no stranger to the sport. 

Asmodeus. 
But he should stay to keep you company. 

Gabrielle. 

Oh! We are used to finding of ourselves 
Sufficient pastime till our lords return. 



ACT III 131 

A Norman Man. 

[To a Norwegian Maid. 
[Dancing a figure ', Sintram is unseen of them. 
We go to hunt the bear to-morrow morn. 
Will you wish me God-speed? 

Maid. 

With all my heart. 
Man. 

Your words are fair enough. But you have thoughts 
Only for Sintram, and you see no other. 

Maid. 

How can you speak so ? 

Man. 

Is it not the truth? 
In all the rounds, while you have held my hand, 
You sought but Sintram's glance and danced for 

him. 
While he! You might as well be yonder 

hound : 
He cares for Skovemark. 

Maid. 

Doth he cherish aught? 
I should rebuff you were such foolishness 
Worth answering. 

Man. 

It is not foolishness, 
And I am wroth. 



i 3 2 SINTRAM 

Maid. 
Why, what is it to thee? 

Man. 

So much, that I could, when he flies along 
Upon his skiis, wish they might shatter him 
On some steep — I could cut the thong myself. 

Maid. 

If thou shouldst touch him, I should kill thee for it. 
[They walk out of hearing. 

Sintram. 

Would this be murder? The poor girl cried out 

That she would kill him for the deed, and yet, 

If I fell mangled to that hideous death, 

Who e'er should trace the hand that sent me there? 

I now bethink me, Folko's strap is weak, 

And I must tell him it will never hold. 

Asmodeus. 

The Lady Gabrielle has rarely seemed 
More beauteous than to-night? 

Sintram. 

She does not change, 
For she is always beautiful. 

Asmodeus. 

Indeed 
Fair Helen's Paris has unchanging eyes. 



ACT III 133 

Sintram. 
Now, by my halidom, you shall not bring 
That evil Saga back into my life. 
" I've done with it. 

Asmodeus. 

When steering into port 
You cast aside your helmsman. 

Sintram. 

Steered by you, 
'T would not take long to make the port of Hell. 

Asmodeus. 
You are in sight of it, or I mistake. 
Go, then, tell Montfaucon his strap is weak. 

Sintram. 
Think you I'm Folko's Squire, or that I'll take 
Orders from you? 

[He moves away. 
Asmodeus. 
I scarcely thought you would. 
[He shakes a handful of gold pieces from his 
mallet. 
This was a monarch's ransom when the North 
Fell upon Rome. The Rovers strangled him 
After they got his gold. 

[He selects a piece. 
Now, let us see: 
Heads, Sintram speaks to him; tails, he does not. 

[He pitches the coin. 

CURTAIN 



Scene III 

A Cliff above the Fjord. A fir wood to the right. 
Deep snow drifts about. Enter two huntsmen. 

ist Hunter. 
How far will Sintram chase this brute? 

2nd Hunter. 

Who knows? 
They've lost the trail since that last fall of snow, — 

ist Hunter. 
And all the hounds at fault, 

2nd Hunter. 

Excepting Skovemark; 
He still pursues to seaward. See him now. 

[Enter Sintram with Skovemark in leash. 

[To Sintram. 
You've leashed him, Sir? 

Sintram. 

For fear that he would dash 
Over the cliff. How many are there left 
Will not give o'er ? 

134 



ACT III 135 

1st Hunter. 

Two now, and we were ten. 

Sintram. 
But were not Bjorn and Montfaucon with you? 

2nd Hunter. 

Your father struck out over yonder swell, 
Into the pine wood. Folko left him there 
And skirted these black boulders through the gorge. 
[The baying of a hound is heard. 

1st Hunter. 
That is Lord Folko's hound; I know his bay. 

To Sintram. 

He then must have recovered; Be alert, 
And climb down on the hither side to watch. 

[Enter Montfaucon. 

Montfaucon. 

The she-bear's den cannot be far away, 
For with her cubs she has been hereabouts. 

Sintram. 

The men have seen her wintering in a cave 
Not three days since. 

[Exeunt men. 
And those who sighted her 
Declared they never saw so huge an one. 



1 36 SINTRAM 

Montfaucon. 

It is, no doubt, about these rocks she hides. 

[Horns and cries are heard in the distance. 

Montfaucon. 

You know you promised me the trophy, boy, 
I must cut off the claws for Gabrielle. 

Sintram. 

[To Montfaucon. 
Hold, Folko, the descent is almost sheer; 
Make ready with your blade : We have her now. 
Look! There among the rocks, close by the sea. 
[Montfaucon bares his short sword, throu/s 
down his cloak and makes ready to descend, 
but stops to examine his skiis and holds out 
his foot to Sintram. 

Montfaucon. 
Sintram, how are the skiis? Are they secure? 

[Enter Asmodeus, as a long shadow on the 
snow that only takes shape by degrees. 

Asmodeus. 

There's nothing wrong with them. You need not 

fear. 
The straps are sound. 

[Montfaucon bounds down the cliff and out 
of sight. 

Sintram. 

Whose voice was that ? Not mine. 
[Sees Asmodeus. 
Who gave you leave to speak? 



ACT III 137 

Asmodeus. 

Your silence did. 

Sintram. 

Or asked for your opinion? You know well 
He is in peril, for you made the thong. 
You know that it will never hold. 

Asmodeus. 

I spoke 
To spare you fool's remorse, reserved for those 
Who turn their backs on Paradise. 



Sintram. 



Asmodeus. 



Like you. 



Really, we need not quarrel over that. 
For if not happy, I at least am free, 
And you are neither. 

Sintram. 

No, nor am I yet 
The thing that you would have me be, not yet. 

Asmodeus. 

I would but have you man enough to sweep 
All obstacles aside and grasp your prize 

Sintram. 

Mine! Think you if I went to her all red 
With Folko's blood she would behold my face? 



i 3 8 SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 

"If he fell headlong to that hideous death, 
How should she know the hand that sent him 

there?" 
Whose words were those? Answer. 

[Voice of Montfaucon in the distance. 
O! Sintram, help! 
{Sintram starts forward, Asmodeus detains 
him. 

Sintram. 
He calls to me. Let go! 

Asmodeus. 

While there was time 
You did not save him. Now think of yourself. 
For him, confronted with the wounded brute, 
There is no chance, down in that narrow den 
Where they have rolled together. 

{Voice of Montfaucon. 
Sintram, help! 
Asmodeus. 

Your Helen waits for you. You do not know 
How much you are to her — how easily 

Sintram. 

{Steps back. 
His overweening pride was his undoing. 

Asmodeus. 

He never more will scorn you. Haste away! 
Framness deserted, Gabrielle alone 



ACT III 139 

With women, you can take her to your ship 
Ere they shall bring her hero's body home. 
Quick, do not waver. 

S intrant. 

He is hurt, mayhap 
Mortally faint, he holds the bear at bay, 

Whilst I 

Montfaucon. 
Sir Sintram, help! 

Sin tram. 

A belted knight — 

[Enter Weigand. 

And he, — What hath he done? He knighted me. 

\Frenziedly. 
Death walks abroad, who is to be his prey? 

Sir Weigand. 
As on the cliff I strayed, I heard a cry, 
And far below I saw a wounded man 
Who with his left arm and a broken blade 
Held off the monster that bore down on him. 
I could not with bare hands give help. He cried: 
"My arm is crushed, my sword snapped in the fall." 

Sintram. 
Oh God! He must have hurled into the cave! 

[dsmodeus disappears. 

Sir Weigand. 
Aye, stones and snow were falling on him still. 
Rush to him, Sintram, while he is alive. 



140 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

Heaven be thanked, his life may yet be spared. 
I'll save him, or I'll ride with thee to-night. 

[Sintram clambers down the side of the cliff 
and out of sight. 

Sir JVeigand. 

[Alone. 
With me. He takes me for my brother, Death. 
The other one who rides upon the hills 
And snatches men from their warm hearth to lie 
In still forgetfulness. I wish he knew 
I am not Death. This habit I must wear 
Because it is a vow I made, to wear 
The sackcloth that betokens penitence 
For wrathful murder of a harmless man, 
And on my gown the dead men's bones picked up 
About the mountain, for they might be his. 
So Sintram would have slain a noble man 
Had I not dragged him from his purpose. Yea, 
I saw the Shadow creeping on the snow. 
Now, Devil, we are even, you and I. 

CURTAIN 



Scene IV 

A Wayside Shrine in the Wood. Gabrielle and her 
women grouped about the shrine. Men standing 
at a distance. 

ist Man. 

The dame of Montfaucon prays God for him. 

2nd Man. 
Well may she do so. He was rash to go 
Upon this venture. Men grown old in sight 
Of yonder wilds bade him let be the chase. 

3rd Man. 
That is the test of utmost hardihood, 
And he a stranger to these parts. 

ist Man. 

He seems 
No stranger ; he is first among us all ; 
And even Sintram's spear is lowered to him. 

3rd Man. 
Do you believe that Sintram takes it ill? 

2nd Man. 

He is so glum of late. A thunder cloud 
Hangs on him as it were. 
141 



i 4 2 SINTRAM 

ist Man. 

I would not cross 
The man when he looks so. They say — 

4th Man. 

Stand back ! 
They come in this direction. 

Several. 

Ho ! Make way. 
[Gabrielle and the women descend to front. 
At the same time the hunting party enter 
from the side, Montfaucon^ Bjorn, Sintram, 
Weigand, and hunters. Montfaucon is 
wounded and his arm in a sling. He leans 
on Sintram, who carries the hears claws in 
his free hand. Weigand and Bjorn walk 
behind them. 

Gabrielle. 

[Hastening to the side of Montfaucon. 
Oh, you are hurt ! 

Montfaucon. 

Nay, it is but a scratch. 
The bear was loath to part from me, you see. 

Gabrielle. 
You bleed. 

Montfaucon. 

Nought, nought. Sintram is fled to cover. 
Come hither. Sintram. 



ACT III 143 

[Sin tram approaches. 
Now, my love, salute 
The hero of the chase. 

[Sintram shrinks back as Gabrielle advances. 
He then lays the bears claws at the feet of 
Montfaucon. 

Montfaucon. 

[To Sintram, pointing to the bears claws. 
Good lack, not here! 
Present the trophy to my lady, boy. 

[Sintram lays the trophy before Gabrielle , but 
does not look into her face. 



[To all. 



Montfaucon. 
Proclaim the slayer of the bear. 

All. 

Hail! Hail!— 
[Sintram stands motionless. 

Montfaucon. 

Sintram, how now? Our hunter is abashed. 
He was not overcome with laggard's fear 
Like this when he leapt down into the den 
Where I had fallen, and battled hand to hand 
With bruin's wounded mate — no gentle foe. 
I lay disabled with this broken arm. 
He saved my life. 

[Cheers. 



i 4 4 SINTRAM 

Gabrielle. 
Then, Sin tram, you saved mine. 

Sintram. 

[Regardless of her words. 
[To the men. 
If you but knew who stands before you here 
Your javelins would assail me, not your cheers. 

j st Man. 
Did I not say he had strange moods ? 

2nd Man. 

He has. 
Montfaucon. 

[To Sintram. 
Have you already grown so wild again? 

[Enter Asmodeus unobserved '; he mingles with 
the crowd and approaches Sintram. 

Asmodeus. 
Now, do not play the fool : How should they know ? 

Bjorn. 

[To Sintram. 
What is the matter with thee? All this day 
Thou'st been as one possessed ! 

Sintram. 

Lord Montfaucon, 
Wilt thou entreat thy lady to forego 
Her ministering to thee for a space, 
And grant me but a moment's speech with thee? 
[Montfaucon speaks apart to Gabrielle. 



ACT III 145 

Montfaucon. 

I shall be with thee shortly, as thou wilt. 

[Exeunt severally, all but Bjorn, Sintram, As- 
modeus and Weigand. 

Asmodeus. 

[To Sin tram. 
I have a mind to let you go your way. 
You are about to wreck your life. 

Sintram. 

I know 
What I'm about. I am resolved to break 
The shield in which you said you saw yourself. 

[Exit Asmodeus. 
[To Sir Weigand as he is going out with the 
others. 
You caught me by the hair, a drowning man 

Sir Weigand. 

This is not he who rides upon the hills. 
But one would cheat the Devil of his due. 

[Exit Sir Weigand. 

[Enter Montfaucon. 

Montfaucon. 

You spoke to me upon the way of dreams 
That drive you from yourself; dismiss them now. 

Sintram. 
You shall command in everything but this. 



i 4 6 SINTRAM 

Bjorn. 

Methinks, O noble Baron, he is right; 
For I observe a drifting in his way 
Of late, as of a craft without a helm. 

Sin tram. 

Aye, there is that left in me cries Away! 
Such strength as nerves a man about to swoon 
From loss of blood, in dim and fierce affray, 
That he may drag himself aside to die. 

Montfaucon. 

Cousin, you must not prate so oft of death, 
Such utterings smack too much of cowardice. 

Sin tram. 
The safety of the vanquished lies in flight. 

Montfaucon. 
The voice that speaks to me is not thine own. 

Sin tram. 

It but too well resembles Sintram's voice. 
Advise no further, Knight of Montfaucon, 
A lingering on the verge of ruin here. — 

[Music. 
Amid the distant Mountains of the Moon, 
My father has a stronghold built, they say 
By other hands than human, long ago. 
Depths the eye dareth not drop plumb away 
From the foundations, daylight glances down 
Into the court, and straightway sinks subdued, 



ACT III 147 

While martial bareness lends the inner walls 
The aspect of a cloister or a tomb. 
And one or other it shall be to me. 

Montfaucon. 
Will thou live there alone? 

Sin tram. 

The Castellan 
Shall keep me company. 

Bjorn. 

That surly man ! 
None knows his parentage. He came to me 
A gusty morn and said: "You seek a man 
To be your warder, I will." Scarcely looked 
Into my face. I liked his iron stamp 
And knotted thews. He had a monstrous scar 
Upon his head that should have been a crack 
Through nape and temple, and outlived the blow. 
Has served me since and opens not his lips. 

Sintram. 
Then he and I shall hold good fellowship. 

CURTAIN 



Scene V 

The Hall at Framness. Bjorn and Sintram. Sin* 
tram is making preparations for a journey. 

Bjorn. 
Wilt thou not say farewell to Gabrielle? 

Sintram. 
God keep her, I shall not see her again. 

Bjorn. 
Hast failed in due to her? 

Sintram. 

I never said 
A word unmindful that she belted me. 

Bjorn. 
Wouldst thou have me believe this? 

Sintram. 

As you will. 
Bjorn. 
What hast thou done? 

Sintram. 

I sought to kill the man 
Who is your guest. 

148 



ACT III 149 

Bjorn. 

Folko? 
[Sintram makes a mute gesture of assent. 
When to my hall 
He came, I swore whoever touched a hair 
Of Folko's head should perish. 

Sintram. 

Keep thine oath. 
Doubt not I'll welcome my deliverance. 
I'd seek my own peace, if the old faith ruled. — 

Bjorn. 

I attacked strangers, I did not assail 

The guest who'd broken bread, and yet the curse 

Hangs on us both. 

Sintram. 

Thou canst revoke the doom. 
I'm pledged by thee to Sin, then set me free 
From that ignoble bondage. Thou'st betrayed 
My secret soul to terror : break the chain 
Which thou has forged. — Put me beyond that fear, 
And I will stagger down into the arms 
Of the appalling Shade that hunteth me . . . 
Thou hast a sword. 

[Enter Montfaucon. 

Montfaucon. 

Your wrath is loud, I heard. 
You owe me fealty, since you have kneeled 
To me, Lord Bjorn. 



150 SINTRAM 

Bjorn. 

Then deal with him yourself. 
[Exit Bjorn. 
Sintram. 

My life is forfeit, and I am prepared. . . . 
You erred the day that you conferred on me 
The Knightly Order, and you tried in vain 
To make a Christian of the son of Bjorn. 
I do not know what you have heard me say, 
But had I killed you, as I meant to do, 
You had not with a freer conscience died 
Than I, regarding her who gave me this. 

[He hands his sword to Montfaucon. 

Montfaucon. 

You counted your blood cheap in yonder den. 
Let that be, Sintram, since your life is mine, 
Believe, I will not lightly trample on it. 
The sentence you have brought upon yourself 
Is silence : Live, and say no word of this. — 

[He hands back Sintram 's sword and offers 
him his hand. 

[Exit Montfaucon. 
[Enter Rolf. 
Rolf. 
Skovemark is dead, my Lord. 

Sintram. 

Skovemark is dead ! 
He got his wound to save me from those claws. 

[Points to the bears claws. 



ACT III 151 

[Apart. 
My heart was cheered by love of that poor dog; 
His muzzle ever ready at my heel, 
His tongue upon my hand. 

[To Rolf. 
Bury him deep, 
Beneath the blasted oak tree where I stood 
When Folko's ship was beached upon our shore. 

Rolf, 

Will you ride forth in arms, Sir? 

Sin tram. 

Even so. 
Rolf. 
Your horse is ready. — Sintram, my dear lord, 
Go first to Drontheim. 

[He arms Sintram, who is passive; puts on 
his helmet, cloak and spurs, and hands him 
his shield. Sintram himself takes his spear 
from the wall, removes from it the scarf of 
Gabrielle and folds it in his bosom, then goes 
to the door. 

Rolf. 
Take you not your sword ? 
[Sintram girds it mechanically. 

Sintram. 
He'll pant no more in swift and eager chase, 
Or hold dumb speech with me, or hear my voice ; 
He nevermore will strain a captive leash 
To follow. Rolf, to-night I ride alone. 

CURTAIN 



Scene VI 

Night. The Castle of the Moon Rocks. A stately 
but half ruined stronghold. The walls are 
crumbling and open in places to the sky. A sail 
cloth protects one corner in the nature of a tent. 

A sound of hoofs is heafd, then a horn and the let- 
ting down of drawbridge chains. 

Enter Sintram and the Warder. 

Warder. 

Hearing the bugle of the Bjorn, methought 
Thy father was approaching. It is long 
Since he has visited this mouldy keep. 
Thou art unlike Sir Bjorn, for gentleness 
Is writ between thy brows. 

Sintram. 

My present temper 
Hath little mildness. By the grace of Heaven, 
My hand is stayed from murder and no more. 

Warder. 

It is a fearful thing to kill a man 
That's not on his defense, to strike him down 
With all his sins upon his head. So did 
Sir Weigand, wouldst thou wander mad as he? 
152 



ACT III 153 

Sin tram. 

Sir Weigand sent the shepherd to his death 
Because the churl denied a maiden's whim. 
He struck in wrath, he never meant to kill. 
I have far more to answer for than he; 
And I should have blood-guilt upon me too 
Had not Sir Weigand's hand withheld my own. 

Warder. 
The churl was murdered. 

Sin tram. 

Weigand has been purged 
By a whole lifetime of remorse and woe. 

Warder. 

If in his place of durance that poor man 
Can see the dainty Lord who took his life, 
That humbled glance, bowed head and bleaching 

hair, 
Why, then, perhaps he says unto himself 
Fate, after all, is not unkind to him. 

Sintram. 
Thou hast a hard heart. 

Warder. 

And a harder head. 
[He draws a stool before the fire for Sintram 
and fetches him a bowl of food. 
Wilt thou be warmed before the fire, and eat? 



154 SINTRAM 

Sin tram. 

The journey has been long, through trackless woods, 

For first I rode to Drontheim ; I had need 

Of speech with the good Prior, then came here. 

How canst thou live amid these ruined walls? 

And what defense against an enemy 

Should such a stronghold offer? 

[Points to breaks in the wall. 

Warder. 

This was done 
When last Jarl Eric and his trusty men 
Laid siege. They would have razed the place, but 

scared 
By rumors of your being on their track 
They fled as suddenly as they had come. 
Since then the hold has been dismantled, quite, 
As all who had defended it were slain 
Except myself, and me they left for dead. 

Sin tram. 
What is this awning, tentlike, spread above? 

Warder. 

The sail of an old ship, for many years 

The terror of the coast, which Bjorn had manned 

For a descent on England, when our King 

Was planning conquest. Now it checks the wind 

That blows through all the creviced masonry, 

The rain and snow. — 



ACT III 155 

Sin tram. 

Strange place ! Bleak as a camp, 
Secluded as a hermitage. These woods, 
Afford they game? 

Warder. 

Plenty of it, my lord. 

Sin tram. 
We'll start upon the chase when daylight comes. 

Warder. 

Your chamber is made ready in the wing, 
The turret that holds good against the storm. 

Sintram. 

A soldier under arms sleeps on his cloak. 

[Warder regards him curiously a moment then 
leaves him. 

[Exit Warder. 
[Sintram takes his seat by the fire that is dying 

down, and rests his head on his hands. 
[Enter Weigand, clambering in through a 
breach in the wall. 

Sintram. 

Dost thou still haunt me? I am ready now. 

I fled the dire dishonor that o'ercast 

My life at Framness, and I am alone, 

With nothing more to fear or hope. Then, come, 

And let us gallop through the dark amain. 

Yea, thou hast been my shadow, in and out 



i 5 6 SINTRAM 

Between the boles of the snow-laden firs. 

I scarce could make my war horse stumble on, — 

And overhead thy scythe that moweth down 

The harvests. I am weary. Let us go 

In quest of Peace. To horse ! And we will search 

Through all the world until we find the Gate. 

We'll open it. We'll ride into the halls 

Where ghosts keep company, and till the dawn 

Splits the black dome, we'll hold a wild carouse ; 

Come, brother, thou and I, now. 

Sir Weigand. 

You mistake, 
Sir, I am not the Pilgrim of the Hills 
But Weigand who must wander for his crime. 

Sin tram. 
Oh! poor Sir Weigand! And what do you here? 

Sir Weigand. 
I often come when it is cold as now, 
To warm me by the fire, for I am numb. 
The Warder lets me in and says, "Come in, 
Near me thou nearest art to Hell." What mean 
His words? 

Sin tram. 
They are no doubt a rusty key 
To secrets that he dungeons in his breast. 
His looks are sinister. 

Sir Weigand. 

Lord Montfaucon 
Is making ready to depart. 



ACT III 157 

Sintram. 

Yea, so? 
What thought his wife of that my wordless going? 

Sir Weigand. 

He has explained to her your sudden leave 
As taken at Bjorn's order to defend 
This old and threatened fortalice: a task 
Your Sire imposed on you for some offence: 
She thinks you are beleaguered. 

Sintram. 

So I am. 

Sir Weigand. 

She spoke one eve to Folko, and she said: 
"My heart is sorely wrung to think of him, 
Alone in that grey keep, beset with foes; 
Wilt thou not go and cheer him, ere we leave?" 
He stood awhile in thought, and then replied: 
"The penalty was not unmerited." 

Sintram. 
Most surely not. 

Sir Weigand. 

"Nay everyone deserves 
A punishment in Holier Eyes," said she. 

Sintram. 
And then, what did he answer? 



158 SINTRAM 

Sir Weigand. 



"I will go. ! 



Sin tram. 

It burns me but to think he will come here 
And drop an alms of mercy at her word. 

Sir Weigand. 

[Puts his hand on Sintram' s shoulder. 

Sintram, the man you wronged has proved himself 

True Knight. Now, you would not be less than he ? 

[Exit Sir Weigand within the castle. 

[Enter Asmodeus. 

Asmodeus. 

Good morrow, my young Sir. How farest thou? 



Who let you in? 



Sintram. 



Asmodeus. 



No lowered bridge or bar. 
A beck, and the portcullis rises swift, 
A nod, the gate's ajar. 

Sintram. 

How came you here? 

Asmodeus. 

A grasp upon my jennet's fiery mane: 
No leather, — Hand to neck and knee to flank. 
So, my Lord Sintram, do I ride the storm. 
With all thine arrogance, I feel thee shrink. 
Thus do I flout the men who kneel to me. 



ACT III 159 

Sin tram. 
Yes, I have dallied with thine evil spells, 
Beshrew me for the folly of that hour! 

Asmodeus. 
A last chance offers to redeem thy pride. 
Folko is at the gate. A spear might drop 
From that old panoply thrown clanging down 
By the rough jar of his approaching tread. 

Sin tram. 
Whatever threatens shall not harm his head. 

Asmodeus. 
Your adversary comes to torture you. 

Sin tram. 

Why should he not have worked his will on me 
At Framness, when I was within his power? 
He but confined me to the prison-house 
Of mine own thoughts, albeit he little knew 
What an accursed companion Silence is. 
I shall endure it, and will kneel to him 
If need be, — not to thee, — though pride and wrath 
Engulf me! 

[Exit Asmodeus. 
[Sounds of the raising of the portcullis, and 
approaching steps. 

[Enter Warder. 

Warder. 

Folko of Montfaucon is here. 
[At the same time, enter Montfaucon. 



160 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

Welcome, my lord. 

Montfaucon. 

Hail, Sintram. 
[A spear falls from the panoply above the 
head of Montfaucon; Sintram catches it in 
the air and throws it down. 

Montfaucon. 

Unseen hands 
Impel disaster in this haunted place. 

Sintram. 

Whilst thou art in it, I am thy defence. 

Montfaucon. 

Thou hast strange mates here. As I crossed the 

moat, 
A Shadow high as heaven gloomed all the stars, 
And a huge scythe, like a dark rainbow, spanned 
The battlements; while in the gallery, 
I vow I saw him of the golden horn. 

Sintram. 

They dog my steps; I do not summon them. 
Thou hast committed me to silence, — Speak, 
Why dost thou seek this horrible retreat? 
It cannot be thou never wert engaged 
In deadly combat with one mightier; 
It cannot be thou never hast been racked 
With mortal anguish. If thou be so strong, 
Wherefore come here to wound a fallen man? 



ACT III 161 

Montfaucon. 

Such speech is most unworthy of you, Sir. 
Whose shield is honored without dint? What eye 
Can stare unblinking in the face of pain? 

Sin tram. 

We each have held the other's life suspended 
A moment in the balance: neither struck. 
And we look back on stern remembrances. 
Try to forgive, and I'll try to forget. 

Montfaucon. 

Sintram, this is a gallant stand. Hold out 
Against thy formidable Adversary, 
Till tidings reach me in my distant land 
That thou hast overcome the curse. That day, 
The Lady Gabrielle shall crown thine arms. 

[They exchange a silent farewell. 
[Exit Montfaucon. 

Sintram. 

Try to forget! How shall I live to do it? 
How can I do it and live? I gave my word. 

CURTAIN 



Scene VII 

The Cloister of the Monastery at Drontheim. 
Reflection of a fire in the distance. Enter the Prior. 
Cries. 

Prior. 

What are those cries, as of some wounded men ? 

[Enter Sintram. 
The fields are lurid and an angry glare 
Lights up the sky. 

[To Sintram. 
Who is to blame for this? 

Sintram. 

[Drearily. 
Half of the wretched business is a blank. 
My father on a foray, sent for help 
Against the bonders who resisted him. 
He said a treasure cast up by the sea 
Within their dingy hovel was concealed. 
And waxing wroth that peasants should have seized 
A Baron's prize, I gathered followers, 
And plunged into a bloody massacre. 
Women rolled shrieking under horses' hoofs, 
Children were stabbed to death and houses burned. 
At last they bound the bravest of the men 
Together to await the axe's blow. 
162 



ACT III 163 

And Bjorn cried: "Sintram, now retrieve thy fame." 
A Viking's right is thine. Be first to strike." 
I do not know what demon drove my hand, 
The axe was swung aloft, — A crimson light 
Flashed on my eyes, their dying look to drown: 
And the Dark Pilgrim stared me in the face. 
"He sickens," cried they, "at the sight of blood." 
Saith Bjorn, "This fit doth seize him unawares." 
Then ere I could recover, with a look 
Of most unmitigated scorn, he snatched 
The battle axe out of my nerveless hand: 
"Get thee to horse," he ordered. "Any man 
May tear thee limb from limb." I rode away 
And thus did I escape a just reward, 
Spared to behold myself with sobered gaze. 

Prior. 

The berserk rage dies very hard in you. 
How oft have you repented of such deeds, 
And vowed to succor rather than to slay? 

Sintram. 
The very words I said confound me now. 

Prior. 

When it appears that you have overcome, 
You stand before me steeped in guilt so deep 
That suffering must be the road to pardon. 

Sintram. 

Is it not suffering to have a Shade 
Hounding your steps with whispered villainy? 



164 SINTRAM 

Prior. 

Then, stop your ears. 

Sin tram. 

Or is the seizure a light thing to bear 
That throttles sense with unrealities? 

Prior. 
What! Yield to phantoms! 

Sin tram. 

Nor are the memories so tamely brooked 
That rankle in you like a broken spear. 

Prior. 

Ungird your baldric: 

Go lay your sword on yonder altar step, 

And mount a vigil o'er your sullied arms. 

Then, weaponless, fare forth among the men 

Whom you have wounded, and bind up their hurts. 

Sin tram. 

It shall be done. If from their fevered beds 
They rise and fell me, they'll do yeoman service. 

Prior. 

Pray for a faithful life, not facile death. 
You shall resume your sword and use it well. 



ACT III 165 

Sintram. 

Not so. It never shall be used again, 
The sword that Angel hands bestowed on me. 
I brought thee, when I found it, Frithiof 's blade, 
To bless and keep for me, strange, elfin-wrought, 
The same that Frithiof, driven to slay the man 
Who stood 'twixt him and love, hurled over sea. 
[The Prior brings him the sword and Sintram 

takes it in his hands and points to the hilt 

that gleams with gems. 
Ah there it is, the magic carbuncle 
Of Angurwadel, clear in loyal hands, 
But dull and lifeless at the touch of treason. 

[He holds it up and the gem glows. 
No grasp but mine has e'er been laid on it, 
Since that far day when Frithiof hurled it wide. 
Its steel shall brace me with a hero's strength, 
To fight and conquer every enemy. 

CURTAIN 



Scene VIII 

The Chapel of the Monastery at Drontheim. 

No light but the Sanctuary lamp. 
Sintram is discovered kneeling, heavily cloaked. On 
the altar steps lie his own sword and baldric, and 
also Angurwadel, that glows red where the magic 
carbuncle is set. He lights a taper at the lamp 
and sets it on a stall desk of the Choir. He then 
takes up his baldric, girds it, and hangs up his own 
sword, leaving Angurwadel where it lies. 

Sintram. 

Hang there forever, like a Cross of gold 
To light my way. No sinful touch of mine 
Shall dull thee more. The hand of Gabrielle 
Has made thee holy. Blood shall never stain 
Thy starry blade again. My belt I'll keep, 
To gird me, and to guard me from disgrace. 
Bright Angurwadel, thou and I will wage 
Our warfare, and great Frithiof who has cast 
Thy glory in my path shall lead me on. 

[He kneels again with the sword in his hand. 
A bell rings. 
Be this the knell of all that in the past 
Has chained me to myself. Lord, give me light. 

[Music. 
166 



ACT III 167 

[A woman s figure is seen, dimly, standing on 
the altar steps beside him, it gradually takes 
the form of Gabrielle with an infant in her 
arms. 

Sin tram. 

[Still kneeling. 
Oh! is it possible that earthly eyes 
Should see the Vision? 

Gabrielle. 

Knowest thou me not? 

Sintram. 

[Recognizing her. 
I know thy face, thy name I dare not say. 

Gabrielle. 

It has been granted I should come to thee 
With promise of good will from highest Heaven. 
I have but lately trod the vale of death 
And in my arms brought back my little son. 

[Sintram rises to his feet. 
I shall behold thy prowess, far away 
In castled Normandy, and I shall bless 
Thy victory. Do not forget the day, 
Sintram, when thou wert girded for the fight. 
Stand straight and strong. 

[The vision fades away. 



1 68 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

What can defeat me now! 

[Bell ringing. 

{Enter the monks, chanting Matins; Sintram 

stands aside in the shadow to let them pass, 

then kneels very humbly in the porch. 

CURTAIN 



ACT IV 

Scene I 

[Eighteen years later.] 
The Hall at Framness. 

Bjorn is discovered playing chess with Asmodeus. 
Bjorn s hair is white and he is much aged. 
Sound of a spurred footstep on the flags of the 
court. 

Asmodeus. 
Checkmate! That sounded like Sir Sintram's step. 
[Enter Sin tram as a man of forty years, grave 
and self-possessed. 

Sin tram. 
Who gave you leave to come into this hall? 

Bjorn. 
He often cheers my loneliness, fair son. 
Like your fair mother, you deserted me, . . . 
You for your cloudy Castle of the Moon, . . . 
And many a time he keeps me company. 
He taught me this strange game which he brought 

back 
From distant regions on the earth's confine 
Where men are clad in coats of rainbow hue, 
And all is wondrous magic. 
169 



170 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

Then forbear! 
They are not Christians who consort with him. 

Asmodeus. 

Did not our mighty Emperor Charlemagne 
Force to the hunt and bring bedraggled back 
The southern fops who visited his court 
In garments decked with plumes of varied dye? 
Those all were Christian men. 

Sintram. 

They may have been. 
You wrest my meaning which you understand. 

Asmodeus. 

And there are Christian men who drink with me, 
Lord Sintram, as you may perhaps recall. 
Will you not play? 

Sintram. 

Away, Sir, from this place! 
[Sintram strides up and sweeps the chess board 
to the floor; Bjorn starts up and strikes him. 
Bjorn. 
Is it for this you come into my house? 
How dare you show such conduct to my guest, 
And interfere with me? 

Sintram. 

Away, I say! 

[Exit Asmodeus. 



ACT IV 171 

Sintram. 
If he comes back we're lost without retrieve. 

Bjorn. 

If he does not come back, I'll call the men 
And make short shrift of thee. Thou art alone. 

Sintram. 
That were a miserable end. 

Bjorn. 

Be warned. 
He shall come in or 

Sintram. 

While I am alive 
He shall not enter here. 

Bjorn. 

I'll let him in. 
[Bjorn tries to reach the door, but Sintram 
intercepts him and they engage in a long 
silent struggle , hand to hand. Finally Sin- 
tram overpowers Bjorn and throws him back. 

Bjorn. 
Sintram, take care ! Go not too far with him. 

Sintram. 
Let him display his utmost fury now. 



1 72 SINTRAM 

Bjorn. 

He will not vent on thee his rightful ire 
At this rough insult — would not stoop to it. 
He has at all times been a friend to me. 

Sintram. 

My bitterest foe. 

Bjorn. 

Thou goadest me to rage. 
Why should he be? 

Sintram. 
We're lost if he returns. 

Bjorn. 

What senseless hate! Indeed I cannot see 
A reason for thy wrath but jealousy, 
Because, forsooth, he takes thine empty place. 
Indeed, as he sat there I often thought 
You looked not so unlike, although there is 
No semblance of it now. 

Sintram. 

The Saints forefend! 

Bjorn. 
He more than once hath said you did his bidding. 

Asmodeus. 

[Returns. 
Will you deny you pledged me in this hall? 



ACT IV 173 

Sintram. 
I did, and suffered untold agony 
In consequence. 

Asmodeus. 
Your scruples are to blame, 
Not I. 

Sintram. 
Seek not to parley with me, go. 

Asmodeus. 

[To Bjorn. 

Are you the master of this place, or he? 

Bjorn. 

[To Sintra?n. 
That we shall see. Leave here at once, or look 
To be overpowered and brained. 

Sintram. 

You cannot shake 
Mine armored steadfastness. I give my word 
This Evil One shall cease from troubling us. 

Bjorn. 
Ho! Carls! 

[Enter two men-at-arms. Sintram interposes 
and points to Asmodeus. 

Sintram. 
His horse. 

Asmodeus. 

Until we meet again. 

CURTAIN 



Scene II 

The Castle of the Moon Rocks 
The Place has been restored!, and gives a dim and 
lofty suggestion of Gothic architecture. Uncer- 
tain place and time. The walls are hung" with 
banners. 

Warder. 
My lord comes not. He went to help old Bjorn 
Who draws the sword. God grant him safe return. 

[Sound of a horn. 

[Exit Warder. 

[Enter Sintram and the warder together. 

Warder. 
You are quite worn, Lord Sintram. 

Sintram. 



Nearly spent. 



And wounded. 



Warder. 
Sintram. 



Yes. 

[Puts his hand to his shoulder. 
Through all the dreary days 
Of journeying here, it hath not seemed to heal. 
174 



ACT IV 175 

Bjorn sent me word Kark broke upon his bounds. 
Kark, the marauder, leagued with Arinbjorn, 
Destroyed his barns and drove his cattle off. 
I offered him protection, for he grows 
Somewhat too old to fight without surcease 
As was his wont. We fought them hard and long. 
They gashed my harness. I am tired, man, 
Tired of petty warfare. There were laid 
Upon the sod more than a score of them, 
Crime-sodden, desperate outlaws — sea wolves all, 
Whom the good monks have tended or interred. 

Warder. 
Wilt thou turn monk, too, nursing common men? 

Sin tram. 

[Absently. 
I have shed blood more often than I stanched it. 

Warder. 

Sir Knight, there is as great a change in you 
As in this hold since at your bidding called, 
The Master Builder and his masons came 
And tore old shapes and shadows from the walls, — 
All but the spear you would not let them touch. 
It hangs where it hath always hung, right there. 
One day it dropped, just after you arrived. 
I found it on the floor. 

Sintram. 

I saw it fall. 



176 SINTRAM 

Warder. 

The banners of your victories adorn 

The place, 'tis true. But I am ill at home 

Amid these flaunting ribbons. 

Sin tram. 

Where art thou 
Much more at home than here? For thirty years 
Thou didst serve Bjorn in silent solitude; 
For eighteen more hast shared the roof with me, 
Who scarcely am more talkative than thou. 
In all that time, I never asked a word 
Of thy dumb past. But there must be a clue 
To thy mysterious silence. Who art thou? 

Warder. 

Not till your worship has become a priest 
Need I reply to question such as this. 

Sin tram. 

I am no priest or monk, nor e'er shall be. 
My vows are to defend the right, and stand 
Champion to those who are in need of me. 

Warder. 
Nobody asks you why you took that vow. 

Sin tram. 

Such is the pledge of every Christian Knight. 

Warder. 

They do not all in Norseland keep the pledge, 
Nor elsewhere either. 



ACT IV 177 

Sin tram. 

Recreant though we be, 
It is for service that we gird the sword. 

[Exit Sintram. 
[Enter Sir Weigand. 

Sir Weigand. 
Did I not hear Sir Sintram's voice? 

Warder. 

You did. 
He just returned, wounded and spiritless. 

Sir Weigand. 

I watched the struggle from a hill : hard pressed 

He was, and nearly murdered by the band 

That sought to rob his father. Every year 

Grown fiercer, Bjorn rests not from quarrelling, 

And has no friends in Roga land. Alone 

Of them who know him Sintram dare approach 

The Bear, grown sick and dangerous with age. 

He helped the monks to bury all the dead, 

When darkness fell and none could see his face. . . . 

Only the raven wings upon his crest 

Spread loftily against the starlit sky, 

An easy mark amid the bending cowls, 

And the stark figures prone upon the snow, 

Though Angurwadel was not at his side. 

He bandaged those who let him minister 

To their foul bodies, even carried them 

As far as to the nearest farm or close 

With aid of his retainers. 



178 SINTRAM 

Warder. 

It is strange 
A Knight should stoop to such a menial task. 

Sir Wetland. 

He seems compelled by some bond unavowed, 
More strict even than his knighthood. 



Here he comes. 



Warder. 

Sintram. 
Good Weigand, welcome. 

Sir Weigand. 

How dost thou, my friend? 

Sintram. 
Nor well nor ill. Is it not Christmas Eve? 

Sir Weigand. 
We had forgotten it. 

Sintram. 

There is little here 
To bring it to your mind. 

Sir Weigand. 

More than you think. 
\Bell chiming. 



ACT IV 179 

Sintram. 

The blessing of the moon is on the snow, 
And bells are pealing out upon the night — 
"Glory to God and peace on earth to men." 

Warder, 
Peace! Is there peace for men? 

Sintram. 

The peace that comes 
Of duty done and evil deeds forgiven. 

Sir Weigand. 

Oh! Heaven, I wonder if repentance can 
Wipe out the stain of blood? 



Upon thy hand. 



Warder. 

That stain is not 

Sir Weigand. 

What dost thou know of it? 



Warder. 
I am the shepherd whom you struck that day. 

Sir Weigand. 
Thou here, alive? Could I but think it true; 



180 SINTRAM 

Warder. 

Dost thou remember how thy sword-blow fell 
Across my head and down upon my chest? 
Look at the seam, and know I am alive. 

Sir Weiffand. 
Why hast thou goaded me through all these years? 

Warder. 

To punish for the stroke. I let thee writhe 
Beneath the whip of thy remorse and grief, 
Was well content that thou wert suffering. 
All men believed me dead. A poor recluse 
Who dwells among the hills recovered me 
From madness and from death. But when I stood 
Restored, I bound him to close secrecy, 
And went my way a stranger to the world. 

Sin tram. 

[To Warder. 
This Holy Night thou hast redeemed thyself. 

Sir Weigand. 

I am no murderer ! Good will to men ! 
Now I can go in peace. God give thee joy, 
Sir Sintram! Now I am no murderer! 
Now I can look Verena in the face 
And send my soul out, kneeling at her feet. 

[Exit Sir Weiffand. 
{Knocking at the doors. 



ACT IV 181 

Warder. 

Someone is knocking. 

[Exit Warder. 

Sintram. 

Is there peace for me, 
Upon this earth, kind God ! On such a night — 
A King came here and bowed unto the dust 
Of uttermost humility, to teach 
That we must not be proud or merciless. 
As at this time, the Prince of Glory lent 
His spirit to our human flesh to shew 
All erring spirits how to overcome. 

[Enter the Prior of Drontheim and the Ward- 
er, carrying a wounded man on a litter with 
several men-at-arms in attendance. 

[Sintram kneels for benediction. 

Prior. 

[Apart. 
I go upon a pilgrimage to Rome, 
And stopped to give thee benediction, son. 
Not far from here I found this wounded man. 
The Brothers who accompany me I left 
Out in the guard-room, for a word with thee — 
Alone. — He must have met foul play. 

Sintram. 

[To a retainer. 
Fetch him some water. 

[They dispose the litter on the floor and Sin- 
tram stands aside to speak with the men. At 



182 SINTRAM 

the same time, the Warder approaches the 
Prior and speaks low and earnestly with 
him. The man-at-arms returns with a 
pitcher of water and Sintram puts it to the 
wounded mans lips. 

Prior. 

[To Sintram. 

Spare me a short space 

With this your Warder, who would speak with me. 

Sintram. 

[To the men-at-arms. 
See to the care of those two Palmers, there. 

[Exeunt Prior, Warder and men. 
[Sintram takes a lamp from the engle nook and 
examines the face of the wounded man who 
is lying motionless on the litter. 
Sintram. 
The stars are making merry. Eighteen years 
Have hardly changed the face of Rudolph Lentz. 

Rudolph. 
Who's he that called me ? 

Sintram. 

One whom you have known 
Amid such scenes as better are forgot. 

[He kneels to bandage Rudolph's wound. 

Rudolph. 
Where am I, friend? 



ACT IV 183 

Sintram. 

Lie still for you are sick. 

Rudolph. 
That draught revived me. Tell me where I am. 

Sintram. 

You have been rescued from the ruthless band 
Of those who would have made an end of you. 

Rudolph. 

I now remember. Such are rarely seen 
Even in your wilds. I rode across the heath 
And they waylaid me. They were setting out 
To raid some Herser's farm, and thought I might 
Avail as hostage, should their fortunes fail. 

Sintram. 

[Apart. 
The same, no doubt, that we drove off. 

Rudolph. 

I chose 
An hour when they were drunk upon the road, 
To slip their vigilance and gain the brush. 
But once out of their cups they overtook 
My flight and struck me down. 

Sintram. 

How came you there, 
And whither were you bent ? 



1 84 SINTRAM 

Rudolph. 



Sir Sintram. 



For Framness, where I seek 

Sintram. 
What wouldst thou of him? 



Rudolph. 

They speak 
Great things of Sintram and his high renown. 
I go to Normandy, to Montfaucon, 
Carrying carcanets and cloth of gold. 
Lord Folko is his kinsman. My good ship 
Awaits me at this hour. I met a man, 
A weird dark man, who said he knew them both, 
And told me Sintram, thither likewise bound, 
Doth bide a chance to sail for Normandy. 

[Music and Voice. 
To the distant shores I go, 
Where the May is blowing. 

Sintram. 

Who was it prompted thee to this? I say 
Who prompted thee to this? I know, I know. 
What need of secret malice? You're avenged; 
The curse is almost more than man can bear. 

Rudolph. 

What curse? Good Heaven! You are beside 
yourself. 

Sintram. 

It was his mother's prayer that set you free, 
When you were wrecked, in danger of your life, 



ACT IV 185 

Assailed by madmen, in the Devil's hold. 
But Sintram stood on an unchristian oath 
To slaughter helpless strangers. He has paid 
A heavy price for it, as well I know. 
And now he makes some show of penitence, 
Because he has been beaten to his knee. 

Rudolph. 

He was the boy who tore his followers on, 
Like hellhounds in that demon-ridden place? 

Sintram. 
Upon a Christmas Eve, as it is now. 

Rudolph. 
How do you know — 

Sintram. 

It is a household tale. 
[Enter Prior and Warder, hurriedly. 

Prior. 
We heard your cry and feared some evil chance. 

Warder. 
You seemed in much distress. What is it, Sir? 

Sintram. 

[Regaining composure. 
I think I fell asleep and must have dreamed. 



186 SINTRAM 

Rudolph. 

[Apart to Sintram. 
Forgive what gave you pain. No harm was meant. 

Sintram. 

[Apart to Rudolph. 
The fault was mine. I spoke too hastily. 

[Aloud. 
Abide. This house shall be your own until 
You have regained your strength enough to leave. 
Give up the thought of Sintram's company, 
And you shall be conducted to your ship. 

[To Warder. 
Bear him within, and take good care of him, 
But do not let him know who is his host. 

[Warder calls a Retainer and they carry Ru- 
dolph into the castle. 

[Prior and Sintram are left alone. 

Prior. 
At Nidaros, I saw your mother, Sir. 

[Sintram bows his head. 
And in the silence of her cloister cell 
She has been shown you must engage a fight 
That shall assay you to the uttermost. 
She bids you think that she will pray for you. 

Sintram. 
That word shall nerve my arm to victory. 

Prior. 

The gentle Sister has attended you 

That lays her balm on wounds of battle, son : 

Her name is Resignation. 



ACT IV 187 

Sintram. 

Nay, good Father, 
Her name is Fortitude. 

Prior. 

Her name is Love. 



Sintram. 



Love ! 



Prior. 

The live coal that sets the incense free. 

[Enter Warder. 

Warder. 

Bjorn's henchman brings ill tidings. 

Sintram. 

Bid him in. 
[Enter Rolf. 

Rolf. 

Your father has but hours perhaps to live. 
A sudden sickness seized him on the night 
You left us. He has hardly spoken since. 
I rode here without stop to bid you haste, 
But am too weak to journey back with you. 

Prior. 

Mount horse, Sir Sintram, ere it is too late. 
I cannot come with you, I must go on. 
High obligation thus compels. 



1 88 SINTRAM 

Rolf. 

We called 
A friar from Drontheim, but he would not hear 
A word from him, and only calls for you. 

[The scene is darkened and when light returns, 
the doors of the hall, rear center of stage are 
wide open, discovering the court, — Rolf and 
Sintram alone. Rolf is holding Sintram s 
war horse. Sintram is at the door in full 
armour. At the horse's head are red-oak 
leaves. 

Sintram. 

Why did you deck with oak my horse's head ? 
That is a victor's wreath; I have no right 
To such an honor. 

Rolf. 

I can scarcely tell. 
From the great oak tree under which you stood 
When Folko's ship approached, I took those leaves. 
It seemed a fitting thing to put them there. 

Sintram. 

The moonlight tips them with white fire. They 

show 
Part light, part dark as shadows cleave the light. 
[He mounts as the curtain falls. 

CURTAIN 



Scene III 

The Death Valley. Night. 
A Magic spell is on the scene. The wintry aspect 
of the landscape has disappeared, and in its stead 
the boughs wear the purple and russet tints of 
autumn. Dim light and stars. Clouds of fan- 
tastic contour. 

Sin tram. 

A blast as from the very mouth of Hell 
Has seared the virgin mantle of the earth 
And made a smouldering ember of the wood. 
These shapes that seem to float upon the air 
Must be the work of a disordered brain. 
The night grows dim, I'll rest my horse awhile. 

[He dismounts, tethers his horse and lies down. 
Enter Asmodeus. 

Asmodeus. 

Good e'en, my lord. 

[Sintram rises on his elbow. 

Sin tram. 

Wherefore address me so? 
We are not on such terms of courtesy. 
i8q 



igo SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 

What would you have me say, — "Good even, Sir?" 
Or, less than Knight: "How dost thou, man?" — or 

less, 
If thou be less 

Sintram. 

Yea, less, when on myself 
I set reliance. 

Asmodeus. 

Was that saying learned 
At Drontheim, to amend for thoughts profane? 

Sintram. 
Belike it was. 

Asmodeus. 

Well, thou art less the man, 
By so much more the monk thou dost become. 

Sintram. 
I am no monk! 

Asmodeus. 

The son of Bjorn, perhaps 
May some day wear the tonsure. 

Sintram. 

Do I seem 
Cut on that pattern? do I look the monk? 



ACT IV 191 

Asmodeus. 

No, no, at this I must rejoice. The sword 
Is still in trusty hands; although I think 
The use to which you put it nowadays 
Is not all worthy of a Viking's son. 

Sin tram. 

Thou meanest, worthy of thee! Since when art 

thou 
My master? 

Asmodeus. 
In some hours, admit I am. 

Sintram. 
Dread Visitor! — What is the end to be? — 

Asmodeus. 
I wonder. 

Sintram. 

Dost thou taunt me? Hear me, then, 
I will not listen to thee any more. 

Asmodeus. 

[Draws a lute and sits down. 
Thou'rt right. A truce, and I will sing to thee. 

[Music. The theme of Sintrarns song. 
Voices sing fragments of it interlaced with 
the theme. Asmodeus sings the last verse. 



i 9 2 SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 

"To the distant shores I go, 
Where the May is blowing." 
[Music continues. Sintram lies back and pil- 
lows his head on his arms. 

Sintram. 

Who would believe an old, old love could thus 
Tug at the heart? Wild dreams, half laid, arise, 
Cry from the vanished years and shake my will. 

[Enter Death. 

Death. 

An air-born shape can have no power to harm. 

What he would have thee do is dastardly. 

[Death appears as an ancient and venerable 
figure, richly clad in purple and gold. He 
carries an hour glass and a scythe. Through 
this scene the attitudes should suggest Peru- 
gino's Knight asleep between Duty and 
Pleasure. 

Sintram. 

My resolution wavers at the thought, 
As at the buffets of a rising gale; 
Or, rather, I am like a sinking ship, 
With rocks ahead and hurricane astern. 

[Music ceases. 

Death. 
There is a Voice that can command the storm. 



ACT IV 193 

Asmodeus. 

It curbs the elements that own its sway, 
But there are tempests that obey it not. 

[Sintram hides his face. 

Asmodeus. 

Since Gabrielle was thrown across thy path, 

Was it so great a marvel to have thought 

She should have loved, not Montfaucon, but thee? 

Sintram. 

How false, I have not so far lost my sense 
As to be unaware ; — I am not fit 
To hold his stirrup. 

[He rises to his feet. 

Asmodeus. 
Dost thou mean those words? 

Death. 

What are these fierce and vain imaginings! 
Thy Summer passes, frost is on thee now. 

Asmodeus. 

Wouldst thou, if Lady Gabrielle were thine, 

Neglect her thus, fair, as she still is fair, 

To spend thy time in war with infidels 

And council with old men? Those wintry streaks 

Are but as hoar that nobler makes the fir. 

Look at thyself as she would look on thee, 

Sated with gazing upon Montfaucon. 



194 SINTRAM 

Sintram. 

Repentance does not save us from the rod. 

It was a stinging blow that Montfaucon 

Knew and forgave, but she has never known. 

Her innocence is as a veil that shrouds 

Her presence from the evil, and her eyes 

If ever they behold me in this life, 

Shall see the knight she belted straight and strong. 

So shall I stand before her, straight and strong. 

Asmodeus. 

I have already said thy victory 

Upon that day was not what men have thought. 

It was no triumph, since I let thee win. 

Sintram. 

{Puts his hand to his breast. 
For all thou draw'st thy slime across my scarf, 
I none the less shall wear it next my heart, 
Whose fiery musing, like an angel's touch 
It still doth calm. 

{Sintram takes up his arins. 

Death. 

Verena, pray for him. 

Asmodeus. 

It was a woman's, not an angel's hand, 
That girt thy baldric after Niflung's Heath. 
And as she spoke 



ACT IV 195 

Sintram. 

Let not thy lips repeat 
The consecrated words she uttered then. 

Asmodeus. 
No need for it, the tide is setting in. 
Sintram. 

[As if dreaming. 
A loose and floating robe of heavenly hue, 
With gold at throat and hem fell from her height, 
And blessed the sod. The warriors of my train 
In awe and wonder stood about, whilst I 
Bedazzled, as by looking at the sun, 
Fell in a maze, and found no words to speak. 

[Death holds up the hour-glass. The scene 
shifts to Niflung's Heath. 

Death. 
In vanity, thy minutes waste away. 
Sintram. 

[Kneels. 
De profundis clamavi ad te Domine. 

[Music in low Gregorian phrases. 
I have renounced the things of earth, and now 
I shall obey thy call and follow thee. 

[Sintram mounts and turns his horse deliber- 
ately to face Death. The features of Death 
become livid and fleshless, gradually chang- 
ing to a skull, and a wreath of serpents en" 
twines the hourglass in his hand. At this 
point the scene suggests Durers engraving of 
The Knight and Death. 



196 SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 

Leap back, leap back! The summons is not yet! 
Follow not him, for he will lead thee down 
To darkness. Rudolph's ship is in the bay: 

[Exit Death. 
Bound to the deck, if thou hast courage left. 

[The scene is darkened and shifts to show the 
castle of King Mark, and Tristram and Isolt 
at a window overlooking the sea. 
See! See! For Gabrielle awaits her Knight, 
As did Isolt, Tristram of Lyonesse. 
Her window towers above a moonlit strand, 
As did the Queen's, and Montfaucon rides forth 
With all his knights in proud security. 
Was not an hour of bliss worth Mark's cold steel, 
And death an ecstasy of love? Leap back! 
The Castle of the Moon Rocks yet may be 
A palace of delight made wondrous fair 
By Venus, the Enchantress. Lo! She comes. 

[Enter Venus. All is dark but her illuminated 
figure. 

Venus. 

In Sparta's hall, on terraces of Troy, 
Through vales of Cyprius my name is known. 
I sway thee by the stars that saw thy birth. 
I fed thee at the breast and fondled thee, 
In ages long gone by, when thou wert Paris. 
But I can parch the channels of thy life 
If thou shouldst spurn me, like the desert wind 
That piles the sand upon the caravan. 



ACT IV 197 

Sin tram. 

Better the cup of fire than slavery. 

[Venus fades from view. Light returns and 
Sintram is discovered on his horse, with 
Death at his side. 

Sintram. 
Think of me now, thou who dost kneel for me. 

Death. 

A last time, I admonish thee: Withstand. 

[Death disappears. The scene shifts to the 
shore where Montfaucons ship landed. A 
huge oak roots in the rock above, and a 
flower is growing in the cleft of the stone. 
Sintram has dismounted and leads his horse. 
Asmodeus is at his side. 

Sintram. 

Sprung from the rock, this flower has offered up 
Its frail existence to the unheeding day. — 
Alone it lived, and taper like, blown out, 
It will go down upon the wind alone. 

Asmodeus. 
In saintly meditation Sintram now 
Drops one by one the beads of precious hours 
When Helen might be his. 

Sintram. 

Ah! Thou dost well 
Thus to remind me that the time is short, — 
My mission unaccomplished. 



i 9 8 SINTRAM 

Asmodeus. 

Hast resigned 
Thy manhood to the priests? 

Sintram. 

No, I have not, 
Nor yet shall I surrender it to thee. 

Asmodeus. 

Thou usest boldness to thine only friend. 
But I can see, beneath thy blustering, 
That rifted oak is not more rent than thou. 

"Sintram. 

Still it resists, opposing to the blast 

Enduring strength; and eagles shall alight 

For many a year on its unshaken top. 

What though the lightning bolt has dropt and 

seared ? 
Struck to the core, it scorns the gash and stands. 

Asmodeus. 

Thou boastest thus, while thou dost clench the grasp 
Upon thy sword, lest thou forget thy vows. 
How poor a thing thou art to challenge me! 
Thou wilt not hide from me, for all the world 
Is ruled by me. Thou canst not well escape. 

Sintram. 

The world is ruled by One who conquered thee 
And all the devils of the realm of Hell ! 



ACT IV 199 

[He draws his sword and makes the sign of 
the Cross with the blade in the air. 
Relentless spirit, that dost haunt my path, 
By this most sacred Sign I challenge thee: 
Thou art not Venus, no, nor Gabrielle; 
Pronounce thy name as known in Holy Writ. 

[Asmodeus disappears with a roll of thunder. 
Enter Death in his original form. A rosy 
cloud appears in the sky overhead. A knell 
is tolling. 

Sintram. 

Stern monitor, I now am wholly thine. 

Death. 

Not so. Thy glass is not yet run. But mount; 
We must press on to Framness. Bjorn sets out 
On the last journey. With him he shall go 
Whom thou dost bring as thy Companion. Ride. 
I go before, and I shall meet thee there. 

Sintram. 
Oh ! What if I had not stood firm, what then ? 

, Death. 

Then Satan would have entered at thy gates, 
And Bjorn had lost his soul. 

[Music. 

CURTAIN 



Scene IV 

The Hall at Framness. 
Bjorn is lying on a couch. Verena is kneeling at his 
side. 

Verena. 

The Sub-Prior, sent from Drontheim, whom you 

drove 
Out of your presence told me to make haste, 
And reach you to attend your sick-bed, Bjorn. 

Bjorn. 

The dying bear is not a gentle host. 
It is a wonder that you came to me. 

Verena. 

Oh ! I have wrestled for you in my prayers : 
Near half my days were spent upon my knees. 

Bjorn. 

Why did you leave me? I might not have been 
The beast I was if you had stayed, Verena! 

Verena. 

It was the only way to win reprieve. 
200 



ACT IV 201 

Bjorn. 
You left us to the Devil's mercies, wife. 

Verena. 

With the consent of your own lips I sought 
The shelter of the Cross, when you gave up 
Your house to nameless horror and to Sin. 
You still may be restored and may atone. — 

Bjorn, 

This seizure is the last. I cannot live. 
Sintram has not arrived. 

Verena. 

They sent for him. 

Bjorn. 
Too late. 

Verena. 
He will be here anon. 

Bjorn. 

Art sure 
The door is shut? Sure it is not ajar, 
And none may enter in unseen ? I wish 
Sintram were here. 



Think of your soul. 



Verena. 

He will not tarry long 



202 SINTRAM 

Bjorn. 

Yea, I do think of it: 
And so I pray you, go and shut the door. 

Verena. 
His mind is wandering, he does not know 
His true condition. Dost thou hear my voice? 

Bjorn. 

Oh, yes, I hear thee. Would my son were here ! 

[Verena kneels and prays silently. 



V 



erena. 



[Aloud. 



Suffer us not to fall away from Thee. 

Bjorn. 

There is a gate, but it will be shut to 
If I do knock upon it. 

Verena. 

Nay, not so. 

Bjorn. 
The priest was telling Sintram of a door, 
While I scarce marked, or thought of other things, — 
And some went wailing with their lamps un- 

trimmed, — 
It was a wedding feast: — The door was shut. 
Who comes? — It is ajar again. — Who comes? 

Verena. 
Be not affrighted; all is safe. Now, say — 
"Forgive us" 



ACT IV 203 

Bjorn. 
How can I repeat such words! 
How can the Lord forgive a life like mine! 

{Enter Sintram with his bare sword in his 
hand, the carbuncle shining at the hilt. At 
sight of Verena he starts then kneels to her, 
as she advances to meet him, and tenderly 
kisses her hand. 



Sintram is here. 

Bjorn. 
Who comes with thee, my son ? 

Verena. 

[Apart. 
The rosy flush of youth is on his face, — 
A glow as of another morn than earth's. 

Sintram. 
I am alone. 

Bjorn. 
No, thou art not alone; 

An angel stands beside thee 

[Death appears. 

Yes, I come. 

[He dies. 

[Enter a retainer. 

Retainer. 

A message from the Lord of Montfaucon. 

[Sintram silences him with a raised hand. 

CURTAIN 



Scene V 

Christmas morning. The outer Court of Fram- 
ness. Snow about. The Hall, low and primi- 
tive, is seen in the background. In the fore- 
ground is the gate, wide open. The sun is rising 
over the roof. Standing outside of the gate is 
Englestram with an attendant. Bjorns retainers 
are grouped around them. A man-at-arms is 
holding Sintram's war horse that still has the 
oak leaves at its head. 

Man. 
Your horse is saddled as you ordered, Sir. 

Sin tram. 
Where is Sir Folko's messenger ? 

Man. 

He waits 
Before the gate, and would not enter till 
He spoke with you. 

Sintram. 
Fair youth, what would you have? 

Englestram. 
My father is the Lord of Montfaucon. 
He bade me journey northward till I found 
The Knight of Framness. 
204 



ACT IV ao5 

S intrant. 

I am he. 

Englestram. 

And say: 
"The Lady Gabrielle will crown thine arms 

[Sintram uncovers his head. 
As I have promised thee. So she has sent 
Her son to be thy squire, and learn of thee." 

[Sintram puts his hand on the youth 's shoulder, 
as the youth takes the bridle of Sintrarns war 
horse, and they enter the gate together. 

CURTAIN 



